This story is part three of a four-part series titled “What Worked for Me.” Content warning: This content includes themes related to substance use harms.
At 16 years old, Chris Turner’s life changed in an instant.
“When I was 16, I broke my neck and I ended up in the hospital,” he recalls. “I crushed my C6 vertebrae, and I was prescribed Percocet, and that started my path of addiction.”
What began with pain management after a traumatic injury slowly became a years-long struggle with substance use. Like many people facing addiction, Chris says recovery did not happen overnight.
“I had to get to that point of having nothing left to lose,” he says.
Learn more about Chris's journey
What worked for me
“Interior Health, especially Mental Health and Substance Use, has been a big part of my recovery,” Chris explains.
During the last year of his recovery journey, Chris became involved in Interior Health’s Daily Addictions Recovery Program, a program in Kamloops that helps people 18 and older build skills to abstain from substances and create relapse prevention plans.
For Chris, the program has given him the tools needed to help him rebuild his life and better understand himself.
“That’s a program where you learn basically how to regulate emotions,” says Chris. “You learn how to set boundaries for yourself and others. It basically teaches you how to be a proper adult.”
Inspiring others
Today, Chris is sharing his story to offer hope to others who may be struggling and to recognize the support he received along the way.
For Chris, recovery has involved more than just sobriety. It has meant learning new ways to care for his mental, emotional and physical well-being.
“What worked for me was practicing mindfulness every day, meditation, calming my nervous system down, regulating myself,” he says.
He also learned the importance of self-compassion and shifting his focus away from shame and toward healing.
I think it's important to not focus so much on your past and what you’ve done and your character defects, but focusing on the good in your heart, the good inside you. Your sober self.
Get crisis support
Crisis Response Teams help you with crisis intervention, including assessment and links to appropriate community and hospital resources when you are experiencing an acute mental health or substance use crisis.
Call 911 for urgent, immediate help.
If you’re experiencing feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm, you can call one of these numbers. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays:
Mental health and substance use services
For help on your mental health and substance use journey, no matter what stage you're at, contact your local MHSU centre by calling 310-MHSU (6478). If you're an adult looking to access addiction care and withdrawal management/detox services, call Access Central at 1-866-777-1103 (toll free).
You can also explore these resources:
- Help Starts Here
- Toward the Heart (BCCDC)
You can also work with your primary health-care provider; this could be your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Or visit your local Health Centre or urgent and primary care centre (UPCC).
Explore our full range of services for adults and youth:
- Indigenous Patient Navigators
- Psychiatrists
- Opioid Agonist Treatment
- Seniors Mental Health & Substance Use team
- Outpatient Withdrawal Management (OWM)
- Treatment, Support and Recovery (TSR)
- Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM)
- Adult Mental Health Services
- Youth Mental Health Services
- Adult Substance Use Services
- Youth Substance Use Services
Find services available in your community
We are committed to creating care that is culturally safe, free from racism, and grounded in humility, where all people, including Indigenous patients, families and communities feel respected and supported in their healing journeys.
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