Shane says living clean and making amends has brought him back to life. He is one of the hundreds of stories already coming out of Alberta’s five Recovery Communities (RC) this year. By 2027, eleven RCs will provide life-changing, recovery-oriented care for individuals experiencing addiction and are an essential component of the Alberta Recovery Model.
While talking in a quiet room at a Recovery Community in Calgary, Shane explained his earliest addiction was adrenaline. At 14 he got caught up with some of “the wrong people.” He couldn’t afford the clothes he felt he needed to fit in, so he began stealing them. It was a quick transition to stealing cars and eventually, firearms.
He liked the rush he felt stealing, and when that wasn’t enough, it was the adrenaline he felt outrunning the police. When that was no longer enough, his addiction became, cocaine, MDMA, fentanyl and methamphetamines, all combined with alcohol.
“Alcohol really affected me,” said Shane. “It made me a person I wasn’t.”
An early turning point for Shane involved the time he drank a 40-ounce bottle of vodka. He then stole a car three blocks from his house. All he remembers is turning the car on, turning the corner and waking up in hospital. He had been ejected from the car, landing 44ft away. He had a broken back and yet, he was walking about three days later.
“[When I got home from hospital] I remember I could taste and see the air; sitting on a bench in front of our house. Another near-death experience. I thought it would straighten me out.”
According to Dr. Nathaniel Day, CoRE’s Chief Scientific Officer, a frightening event, such as an overdose or serious impaired-driving crash, can increase a person’s recognition of a need to change.
“Fear alone does not usually change the learned habits and urges that drive addiction. These events can create an important opportunity to intervene with recovery-focused treatment and support,” says Day. “But they should not be expected to cause lasting behaviour change on their own.”
Despite severe consequences, for many people the fact that a substance is legal, such as alcohol or cannabis, can result in rationalization that addiction to the substances is more acceptable or less problematic than illegal substances.
Shane was able to get a job in construction once he’d physically recovered. He really enjoyed the hard work but he was also drinking heavily and felt driven to drink more to manage the withdrawal he felt while working.
“There’s no such thing as a functional addict,” he adds.
More money meant more drugs and alcohol followed by another stolen car and high speed chase.
“There was a hole I was trying to fill.”
When he was arrested a year ago—following that final high speed chase, he was grateful the Judge offered him an option: pursue recovery or go to jail.
“I got sick of hurting myself and lying to myself, so I researched the recovery programs and made the decision to go.”
After 11 months and 16 days at the Last Door Recovery Community, which opened in Calgary in August 2025, Shane’s now in phase four of his program. Alberta’s recovery community model allows for longer duration of treatment for individuals who will benefit beyond traditional lengths of stay. Shane was born and raised in what he describes as a rough neighborhood. Having friends, family and his community nearby helps as he works to return to a productive and hopeful future.
Today, Shane says living clean and making amends has brought him back to life. In step nine of the 12 step program, “we make direct amends to the people we harm. I wrote to my sister, my mom, a friend that passed, my cousin and his wife.”
“My mom hugged me… I would have never felt that before—the comforting feeling and the spiritual awakening it caused. That letter I wrote her was all the things I harmed; and what I was going to do now. My mom can now sleep at night,” he adds; and you can hear the relief in his voice.
“She has the comfort I won’t hurt her anymore. She’s healing while I am healing.”
Shane’s finding purpose volunteering at his church and leading several groups such as Narcotics Anonymous.
“We do group counselling. I like public speaking; before I couldn’t have even done this interview. I felt such self pity. Self hate. Now, I have gratitude. Everything happens for a reason. Getting arrested is what brought me here. Didn’t take me long to realize I wanted this. I give back my whole heart. I’ve been putting in the work. As a Group Service Representative, I go to area meetings and keep that meeting running and saving lives. I sponsor people and help them get through the steps. I’ve had a part in others finishing this program.
“I really thank the system so much for putting me in this place. I fell in love with recovery. I am learning about myself. Who I am at heart … about my feelings and how not to act on my feelings. Feelings don’t last. Just being able to sit with them and check the facts. I didn’t know about recovery before this. I thought my life will stay in one spot only.
“I was dying. I wasn’t using to be happy. I was using because it was keeping me alive and at the same time killing me. [Without this program] I would have ended up in jail or dead. I am getting my spiritual connection back.
“Last week I spoke at Church and they see recovery is working. I had the confidence to get on stage and have a voice … it’s been really rewarding. Good for my self-esteem.”
When asked his advice to others in situations similar to him, Shane said it’s hard to tell others what to do, but “recovery works; give it a shot and put your full effort into it. Doing the steps of AA will change your life. [The experience of having a year in this program] to know yourself and the inner meaning of who you are; what people in the world get to do this? Looking at your flaws and understanding why you are mad. Learning how to express emotions and problem solving. This program really works but you have to work the program. It’s such a feeling I can’t explain. It fills your heart. Gives you butterflies. Knowing I can make a difference after all the bad I’ve done.”
CoRE’s analysis of the first year of data on Alberta’s Recovery Communities shows the program is having a positive impact. Beyond the stories like Shane’s and the real-life outcomes he will achieve on his recovery journey, it is projected that every dollar invested in Recovery Communities is returning two dollars to the system through improved health, housing and employment.