Mark

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who I was as I grew up. I didn’t have a father figure for much of my childhood and we moved a lot so did not have a chance to make lasting friendships. By the time I got into high school, I was introduced to pot and alcohol, becoming friends with others who used them. By the time I was 19 I was using and selling drugs full time. After a few run ins with the police and being robbed a few times, I quit that lifestyle only to fall into a horrible addiction with alcohol that finally brought me to my knees. I tried everything I could to quit on my own, and finally decided that God had to be the answer.

I came to Adult & Teen Challenge, where I have started a relationship with Jesus Christ. I no longer have the fears, stresses, anxieties, and worries of the life I was living before. Now I have been given a future that has hope and purpose.

I felt like a prisoner to addiction, walking to death row. I had tried to break free many times. It started as a way to cope but became what consumed me. I lost my daughter, my family, and my health. Here, I found hope, love, life, and family. I completed the program and went on to join the SURGE leadership program. Everything I have ever been through, I now get to use for good, walking alongside others on their healing journey.

My life in addiction was chaotic. I didn’t have a sense of purpose or hope. I didn’t know what reality was anymore… I just made things up in my mind and I lived in fear. Today, I have joy, freedom and a community of support and I’m achieving goals!

On a dark path of substance use—marijuana, alcohol, and later, cocaine. My addiction escalated quickly, and I was stuck in a cycle of hopelessness and relapse. I tried to quit on my own. I’d manage to stay clean for a few months, but I’d always fall back into using. I felt trapped. At Adult & Teen Challenge, I discovered a God who loves me despite my failures, and I began to heal. Today, I’m proud to say I’m a full-time staff member at Adult & Teen Challenge, helping others who are walking the same path I once did.
“There’s hope, and it’s within reach for anyone who feels like there’s no way out.”

I struggled with drinking and partying, not realizing I needed help. My biggest challenge was being honest with my loved ones. Ready Now Recovery gave me the space to speak openly, first with the group and then with my friends and family. It showed me that I’m not alone—others are facing the same struggles.

I started smoking marijuana and doing cocaine, I quit working to grow and sell drugs. Soon after I joined a gang and survived a gang attack where my arms and legs were broken and I was stabbed multiple times. I realized many of my friends were either dead or in jail and I started thinking about my life. Since coming to Adult & Teen Challenge. My life changed so much, I’ve found Freedom thanks to God and I’m excited to help others!

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Head Office, Winnipeg MB
83 Kate St. Winnipeg MB R3A 1J9
888-822-9992

Our mission is to offer a full range of addiction, treatment and recovery services with compassion and excellence.

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At Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada, we respectfully acknowledge that our work takes place on the traditional territories of many Indigenous peoples. In Saskatchewan, we operate on Treaty 4, Treaty 5, and Treaty 6 lands, which are the traditional territories of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Métis peoples. In Manitoba, our services span across Treaty 1, Treaty 2, Treaty 3, Treaty 4, and Treaty 5 territories, home to the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Métis peoples. In Ontario, we work on the lands covered by Treaty 3 and Treaty 5, traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, and Métis peoples.

We honor the enduring connection of these Nations to the land and commit to walking in partnership, respect, and reconciliation. Through our programs, we aim to foster healing, growth, and transformation, while acknowledging the rich history, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across these lands.

Mark

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