Addiction and Recovery

Chris is an addict in remission of the incurable chronic mental health disease known as "addiction". On the 08th November 1982, he took his last drug, and day by day, one day at a time, 14956 days later he was invited to share his experience, strength and hope at the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Paarl. He has accepted his condition of addiction and by doing so has learnt to love himself as well. The journey continues.

Chris West-Russell was interviewed on eNCA - Addiction Awareness Week -“The fight against drug abuse” 

Chris West-Russell was interviewed on eNCA regarding Mental Health Week in regard to chronic mental health disease Addiction.

East Coast Radio presenter Jane Linley-Thomas.

In an exclusive interview with Jane, a mother from the Upper Highway area has candidly spoken up about how her son got addicted to heroin unknowingly, and how he went from being someone she loved to someone completely different.

He was a 15-year-old boy from an ordinary home in the Upper

Highway area. He was home-schooled, obsessed with animals, and mountain bike riding. Now he's sitting in a rehab facility after being addicted to heroin - an addiction he was unaware of.

This is the first episode of six "Understanding Addiction". Chris is a recovering addict who is in remission of the disease of addiction and is now an addiction counsellor. He has been in remission for multiple years and through his own experience during active addiction and recovery,  he has recorded his perception and understanding of the disease of addiction that was never explained to him. Chris hopes that giving his own story, will give this important information to those caught in addiction, the families of addicts, and those who are yet to active their addiction disease.

An insight into the life of recovering addicts. What is an addictive personality? What is addiction? “The sleeping tiger within us”. Do we all have some sort of addictive personality? Amy, a recovering addict, shares her story of being in recovery with her husband who is still an active addict.

What is “the hole in your soul”? What is the insanity of active addiction? Is the disease of addiction just drugs and alcohol? What is a High Power, can it be anything?

“Addiction Behaviour” or life and living in the grip of the Tiger. How addicts' behaviour changes to feed their addiction. Why addicts cannot just have or do one. “One is too many and a thousand is never enough”. Where to start the road to recovery, and how to begin. Two stories of experience, strength, and hope.

Rock Bottom is a concept that means something different to each and every addict. Generally, rock bottom refers to a time or an event in life that causes an addict to reach the lowest possible point in the disease. It is a time when the person feels like things cannot get worse for them. Their life has been damaged so badly that it seems like there is nothing good left to destroy. This is my personal story of my rock bottom.

“Hunger for Healing”. When reaching Rock Bottom and you have had enough, where to from here? In this episode, Chris talks about the decision that needs to be made. The choices are: to end up in jail, an institution, death, or life. If you chose a life free from active addiction, Chris will show the road map to start your recovery from Addiction. “If you want what we have, and are prepared to make the effort to get it, then you are well on your way to get it”. Taken from the preamble of Addicts Anonymous fellowship. Just listen for the similarities and not the differences.