Monday, April 17, 2023

A New Man

Local 52 member Edward Cooper struggled with addiction since the age of 13. In May 2022, at age 43, he made the best decision of his life and for his future.

Guide magazine

Edward estimates that he had a total of about four years of sobriety until last year. That’s when he reached out to one of CLAC’s Alcohol and Drug Case Management program specialists and asked for help.

“I had no idea of how my life would change from that day to this,” says Edward. “I entered detox to medically withdraw from alcohol and cocaine.

“While there I witnessed another man going through alcohol and opioid withdrawal. He cried out for help for two days in agony and suffered serious side effects. This truly hit my heart in a way I never thought would happen these past 30 years.

“For the first time I saw that if I kept going down the road of addiction and self-destruction, I would be alone, wife left, parents not talking to me, completely alone, dying a slow alcoholic death or suffering a quick overdose from drugs mixed with fentanyl.

“It provided a huge change in my heart and my soul. All these years I’ve tried to get sober, I surrendered in my head but never in my heart. My heart finally yelled out, ‘I’m done, and I need help.’”

Three days later, Edward flew to BC to begin getting that help. Through CLAC and his employer, Maple Reinders, where he is a skilled labourer, he attended Trilogy House in Surrey to begin treatment.

“It was a tough start,” he says. “I was shaking, scared, and completely vulnerable to my soul. For the first time in my life, I talked. I was honest and I shared.

“The two months I was there, I saw death, overdoses, relapses. I also saw life come into others’ eyes, their souls on fire with sobriety and love. My life changed there in such a great way. I began to live, mind and body, free of addiction. I took full advantage of the one-on-one counselling and slowly started getting rid of the baggage I’d been carrying for years.

“As my sponsor tells me, ‘You went into treatment as Eddy. You came out as Edward.’ I’m who I’m supposed to be, a new man filled with so much hope, love, and support. I wake up each day grateful for life, my sobriety, and the help I received.

“I’ve been given grace, an undeserved favour at life again. I’m free and have no chains or heaviness in every step in my walk in life. Today, I’m a recovered alcoholic and addict, and my name is Edward Cooper.”

We are pleased to announce that Edward won CLAC’s 2022 Matthew Manuel Memorial Award. We are grateful that he has graciously allowed us to tell his story. We hope that it may inspire others struggling with substance use to reach out for help. Contact CLAC’s Alcohol and Drug Case Management Team at 1-877-863-5154 or adcm@clac.ca.

A New Man

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