1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:01,700
>> Sreenivasan: FOR THE LAST FEW

2
00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:02,800
WEEKS WE'VE BEEN BRINGING YOU

3
00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:04,400
PERSONAL STORIES FROM MEMBERS OF

4
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,500
COMMUNITIES IN CANADA'S

5
00:00:05,500 --> 00:00:06,766
NORTHWEST TERRITORY OF

6
00:00:06,766 --> 00:00:07,933
YELLOWKNIFE.

7
00:00:07,933 --> 00:00:09,266
THE STORIES, WHICH ADDRESS THE

8
00:00:09,266 --> 00:00:10,900
DIFFICULT TOPIC OF ALCOHOL

9
00:00:10,900 --> 00:00:12,400
ABUSE, ARE PART OF AN

10
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:13,966
EMPOWERMENT JOURNALISM SERIES

11
00:00:13,966 --> 00:00:15,700
CALLED "TURNING POINTS," DONE IN

12
00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:16,933
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLOBAL

13
00:00:16,933 --> 00:00:18,233
REPORTING CENTER.

14
00:00:18,233 --> 00:00:19,633
TODAY WE HEAR FROM DEVIN

15
00:00:19,633 --> 00:00:21,866
HINCHEY, WHO IS METIS, OR OF

16
00:00:21,866 --> 00:00:23,600
MIXED INDIGENOUS AND EUROPEAN

17
00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,133
ANCESTRY, ABOUT HIS ROAD FROM

18
00:00:26,133 --> 00:00:32,066
ADDICTION TO RECOVERY.

19
00:00:32,066 --> 00:00:35,533
>> THERE'S NO TYPICAL ALCOHOLIC

20
00:00:35,533 --> 00:00:36,333
OR ADDICT.

21
00:00:36,333 --> 00:00:37,866
IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW,

22
00:00:37,866 --> 00:00:39,033
YOUR ETHNICITY, WHERE YOU COME

23
00:00:39,033 --> 00:00:40,100
FROM, THE LIFE THAT YOU'VE

24
00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:41,566
LIVED.

25
00:00:41,566 --> 00:00:42,366
I HAD A PRETTY DECENT

26
00:00:42,366 --> 00:00:43,233
UPBRINGING.

27
00:00:43,233 --> 00:00:45,300
I DIDN'T HAVE CRAZY, CRAZY STUFF

28
00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:46,666
HAPPEN TO ME LIKE A LOT OF MY

29
00:00:46,666 --> 00:00:48,400
FRIENDS HAVE LIVED THROUGH, AND

30
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,000
I STILL ENCOUNTERED THE SAME

31
00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,100
ISSUES WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

32
00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:55,266
WHEN I LEFT YELLOWKNIFE I WENT

33
00:00:55,266 --> 00:00:57,266
TO A HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THERE WAS

34
00:00:57,266 --> 00:01:00,133
REALLY NO SUPERVISION AND, FOR

35
00:01:00,133 --> 00:01:02,300
ME, ALREADY KIND OF

36
00:01:02,300 --> 00:01:03,666
EXPERIENCING, LIKE, SOME

37
00:01:03,666 --> 00:01:04,866
DEPRESSIVE THOUGHTS.

38
00:01:04,866 --> 00:01:06,166
EVERY NIGHT I'D COME HOME FROM

39
00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:08,500
SCHOOL I KNEW THAT I COULD SMOKE

40
00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:09,900
WEED OR DRINK AND I'D FEEL

41
00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:14,466
BETTER.

42
00:01:14,466 --> 00:01:17,700
COME ON!

43
00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:19,933
>> I THINK I REALLY NOTICED A

44
00:01:19,933 --> 00:01:23,500
CHANGE, IT PROBABLY WASN'T 'TIL

45
00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:25,933
THE END OF GRADE 12.

46
00:01:25,933 --> 00:01:27,966
WE HAD ONE NIGHT WHERE YOU GOT

47
00:01:27,966 --> 00:01:30,366
TRASHED AND YOU HIT ME AND, AND

48
00:01:30,366 --> 00:01:31,766
I THINK THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY

49
00:01:31,766 --> 00:01:33,533
CLICKED INTO ME THAT THERE WAS

50
00:01:33,533 --> 00:01:35,966
SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

51
00:01:35,966 --> 00:01:38,300
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF, LIKE, A

52
00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:40,300
REALLY DARK ADDICTION, IT'S

53
00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:43,066
REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY EXACTLY

54
00:01:43,066 --> 00:01:45,033
WHAT'S GOING ON WHILE IT'S GOING

55
00:01:45,033 --> 00:01:46,566
ON, BUT I THINK TY WAS THE

56
00:01:46,566 --> 00:01:48,533
CLOSEST PERSON I GOT TO SAYING

57
00:01:48,533 --> 00:01:50,400
THAT, AND BASICALLY TO GET BACK,

58
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:51,833
"WHATEVER YOU NEED," OR, LIKE,

59
00:01:51,833 --> 00:01:53,166
"WHATEVER YOU DO, I'M THERE FOR

60
00:01:53,166 --> 00:01:54,933
YOU."

61
00:01:54,933 --> 00:01:56,733
AND THEN I WENT TO UNIVERSITY

62
00:01:56,733 --> 00:01:58,933
AND THE FIRST HARD DRUG THAT I

63
00:01:58,933 --> 00:02:00,100
TRIED WAS ECSTASY, IT WAS

64
00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:01,133
M.D.M.A.

65
00:02:01,133 --> 00:02:03,066
AND FROM THERE, IT WAS HONESTLY

66
00:02:03,066 --> 00:02:04,266
KIND OF LIKE THE FLOODGATES

67
00:02:04,266 --> 00:02:05,166
OPENED.

68
00:02:05,166 --> 00:02:07,766
BY NOVEMBER OF MY FIRST

69
00:02:07,766 --> 00:02:10,500
SEMESTER, I WAS USING SOMETHING

70
00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:11,566
EVERY DAY.

71
00:02:11,566 --> 00:02:14,133
I STARTED DEVELOPING, UH, LIKE

72
00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:15,600
THESE REALLY DARK, KIND OF

73
00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,866
LIFE-ENDING THOUGHTS.

74
00:02:17,866 --> 00:02:19,033
AND I REMEMBER NEAR THE END OF

75
00:02:19,033 --> 00:02:21,200
THAT YEAR, I WAS REALLY HIGH ON

76
00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,033
M.D.M.A. AND I REMEMBER BEING IN

77
00:02:23,033 --> 00:02:25,600
A CAB AND LOOKING OUTSIDE OF THE

78
00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,166
WINDOWS AND THE STREETLIGHTS

79
00:02:28,166 --> 00:02:29,466
WERE ALMOST, LIKE, STRETCHING

80
00:02:29,466 --> 00:02:30,600
OUT.

81
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:31,800
LIKE, I JUST KIND OF STOPPED

82
00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:32,933
FEELING MY HEART BEATING.

83
00:02:32,933 --> 00:02:34,433
LIKE, I COULDN'T FEEL, DIDN'T

84
00:02:34,433 --> 00:02:35,233
HAVE A LOT OF FEELING IN MY

85
00:02:35,233 --> 00:02:36,500
CHEST.

86
00:02:36,500 --> 00:02:37,366
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, LIKE,

87
00:02:37,366 --> 00:02:38,733
"I AM OVERDOSING RIGHT NOW."

88
00:02:38,733 --> 00:02:39,700
LIKE, "I AM OVERDOSING ON

89
00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:41,066
M.D.M.A. AND I'M PROBABLY GOING

90
00:02:41,066 --> 00:02:41,966
TO DIE."

91
00:02:41,966 --> 00:02:43,400
THAT WAS WHEN IT GOT REALLY,

92
00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:48,966
REALLY REAL.

93
00:02:48,966 --> 00:02:50,200
>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU REACHED OUT

94
00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,766
AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT, THAT IT,

95
00:02:52,766 --> 00:02:54,533
IT WASN'’’T TOO LATE.

96
00:02:54,533 --> 00:02:55,433
>> THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I

97
00:02:55,433 --> 00:02:56,400
FELT COMFORTABLE.

98
00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:57,533
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ALONE AND I'M

99
00:02:57,533 --> 00:02:58,733
NOT CRAZY.

100
00:02:58,733 --> 00:03:00,000
I'’’M NOT INSANE.

101
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,366
AND I'M GOING TO BE AT LEAST

102
00:03:01,366 --> 00:03:03,966
ACCEPTED BY SOMEONE IF I GET

103
00:03:03,966 --> 00:03:05,766
HELP WITH THIS.

104
00:03:05,766 --> 00:03:08,100
WHEN I WENT TO TREATMENT, IT WAS

105
00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:10,033
REALLY FRUSTRATING AT TIMES.

106
00:03:10,033 --> 00:03:11,333
I'M 19, I JUST FAILED OUT OF

107
00:03:11,333 --> 00:03:12,166
SCHOOL.

108
00:03:12,166 --> 00:03:14,566
I'VE SPENT A, A TON OF MONEY

109
00:03:14,566 --> 00:03:15,633
THAT WASN'’’T MINE.

110
00:03:15,633 --> 00:03:17,366
STOLE MONEY TO FUND THIS

111
00:03:17,366 --> 00:03:18,133
ADDICTION.

112
00:03:18,133 --> 00:03:19,333
WHY COULDN'’’T I JUST STOP?

113
00:03:19,333 --> 00:03:20,866
LIKE, THAT WAS A LOT OF MY

114
00:03:20,866 --> 00:03:21,633
THOUGHTS.

115
00:03:21,633 --> 00:03:22,700
LIKE, "WHY COULDN'T I STOP?"

116
00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:24,066
SO, TREATMENT WAS REALLY GOOD

117
00:03:24,066 --> 00:03:25,866
FOR LEARNING THAT ADDICTION AND

118
00:03:25,866 --> 00:03:27,733
ALCOHOLISM ARE DISEASES.

119
00:03:27,733 --> 00:03:29,866
AND, LIKE, THE WORD THAT'S USED

120
00:03:29,866 --> 00:03:31,800
DAILY IS, LIKE, POWERLESSNESS.

121
00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:33,833
I HAD NO POWER OVER MY

122
00:03:33,833 --> 00:03:39,266
ALCOHOLISM, OVER MY ADDICTION.

123
00:03:39,266 --> 00:03:40,500
I THINK THE BIGGEST PART FOR ME,

124
00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:42,600
THOUGH, WAS COMING BACK FROM

125
00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,500
TREATMENT, YOUR RESPONSE WAS

126
00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:47,033
LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE

127
00:03:47,033 --> 00:03:47,700
WITH?

128
00:03:47,700 --> 00:03:48,666
WHAT CAN I DO?

129
00:03:48,666 --> 00:03:50,000
WHERE CAN'T WE GO?"

130
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,266
YOU JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND--

131
00:03:52,266 --> 00:03:53,600
>> THE LIMITS.

132
00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:54,466
>> YEAH.

133
00:03:54,466 --> 00:03:55,700
>> WHAT, WHAT WAS GOING TO SET

134
00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:58,600
YOU BACK OR WHAT I COULD DO TO

135
00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,200
HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD.

136
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,800
IT'S HELPED ME, UM, UNDERSTAND

137
00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,166
THAT WHAT I SEE ISN'T THE WHOLE

138
00:04:06,166 --> 00:04:07,266
PICTURE.

139
00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:08,566
LIKE, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE TO

140
00:04:08,566 --> 00:04:10,433
IT THAN WHAT PEOPLE ARE SHOWING

141
00:04:10,433 --> 00:04:11,333
YOU.

142
00:04:11,333 --> 00:04:12,200
I THINK IT MADE ME A BETTER

143
00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,066
FRIEND.

144
00:04:13,066 --> 00:04:13,933
IT MADE OUR FRIENDSHIP STRONGER,

145
00:04:13,933 --> 00:04:16,233
THAT'’’S FOR SURE.

146
00:04:16,233 --> 00:04:17,666
>> JUST BECAUSE I'M SOBER OR

147
00:04:17,666 --> 00:04:19,100
BECAUSE SOMEONE IS SOBER DOESN'T

148
00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:21,100
MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY

149
00:04:21,100 --> 00:04:23,000
CHANGE.

150
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,100
ALL RIGHT, YOU READY?

151
00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:25,833
WHEN I GOT OUT OF TREATMENT, WE

152
00:04:25,833 --> 00:04:26,833
WERE TEXTING ABOUT MATCHING

153
00:04:26,833 --> 00:04:27,700
TATTOOS.

154
00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:28,866
I THINK IT STARTED OUT HALF AS A

155
00:04:28,866 --> 00:04:31,066
JOKE AND YOU SUGGESTED THE

156
00:04:31,066 --> 00:04:32,366
INUKSUK.

157
00:04:32,366 --> 00:04:33,800
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS OF MY

158
00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,300
LIFE, I'VE HAD MORE FUN BEING

159
00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:39,033
SOBER THAN I DID EVER.

160
00:04:39,033 --> 00:04:41,866
WELL, I JUST FINISHED, UH, MY

161
00:04:41,866 --> 00:04:43,666
UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA, WHICH IS

162
00:04:43,666 --> 00:04:44,833
HONESTLY SOMETHING I NEVER

163
00:04:44,833 --> 00:04:45,966
THOUGHT I WOULD SAY.

164
00:04:45,966 --> 00:04:47,266
AND NOW THAT I HAVE THAT, MY

165
00:04:47,266 --> 00:04:48,300
NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE

166
00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:49,366
PURSUING A CAREER IN SOCIAL

167
00:04:49,366 --> 00:04:51,033
WORK, AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE

168
00:04:51,033 --> 00:04:52,566
AND JUST TRYING TO HELP WHOEVER

169
00:04:52,566 --> 00:04:55,033
AND WHATEVER I CAN.

170
00:04:55,033 --> 00:04:58,066
I'VE LIVED IN NANAIMO, TORONTO,

171
00:04:58,066 --> 00:05:00,566
LONDON, AND YELLOWKNIFE AND

172
00:05:00,566 --> 00:05:02,066
YELLOWKNIFE IS A LOT DIFFERENT,

173
00:05:02,066 --> 00:05:03,066
ESPECIALLY REGARDING DRUGS AND

174
00:05:03,066 --> 00:05:04,066
ALCOHOL.

175
00:05:04,066 --> 00:05:07,066
IT'S SO EASY UP HERE TO GO DOWN

176
00:05:07,066 --> 00:05:08,000
THE RABBIT HOLE.

177
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:09,633
PEOPLE REACT TO DRUG USE

178
00:05:09,633 --> 00:05:11,733
DIFFERENTLY UP HERE.

179
00:05:11,733 --> 00:05:13,766
IT'S KNOWN THAT IT'S A PROBLEM

180
00:05:13,766 --> 00:05:14,933
AND IT'S, LIKE, ACCEPTED THAT

181
00:05:14,933 --> 00:05:17,233
IT'S A PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL LIKE

182
00:05:17,233 --> 00:05:19,833
THERE'S A STIGMA AROUND SOBRIETY

183
00:05:19,833 --> 00:05:22,333
AND RECOVERY.

184
00:05:22,333 --> 00:05:24,100
YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPOKE OUT ABOUT

185
00:05:24,100 --> 00:05:25,666
MY STORY, I HAD PEOPLE IN THE

186
00:05:25,666 --> 00:05:26,800
RECOVERY COMMUNITY TELLING ME IT

187
00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,300
WAS A BAD IDEA, LIKE, I

188
00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:29,433
SHOULDN'T DO THAT, I SHOULDN'T

189
00:05:29,433 --> 00:05:30,533
SPEAK ABOUT THAT.

190
00:05:30,533 --> 00:05:31,700
IF THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO CAN

191
00:05:31,700 --> 00:05:33,400
HEAR SOMEONE SHARE A STORY AND

192
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,533
THAT URGES THEM TO REACH OUT,

193
00:05:35,533 --> 00:05:38,033
WHY IS THAT NOT OKAY?

194
00:05:38,033 --> 00:05:39,366
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK LIKE I

195
00:05:39,366 --> 00:05:40,800
KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS TO HOW TO

196
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,733
CHANGE THAT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING

197
00:05:42,733 --> 00:05:44,100
THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND

198
00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:44,600
THAT CAN BE CHANGED.