Recovering drug addict wants to become a professional counsellor
Williams is one of the success stories of the Sandy Lane Centre and a shining example for drug users and addicts that there is hope for salvation from the unforgiving vice of drug addiction.
It all started in 1979, Mr Williams recalled to Virgin Islands News Online, when a very close friend of his introduced him to the drug. “He was telling me try it but I was telling him I was scared but after fifteen minutes I gave in.”
Williams, who said he was about 25 years of age at the time, said he was hooked on the drug from his very first try and he even asked his friend for more who he said told him he had no more and that he just wanted to get him (Williams) hooked.
Craving for more ‘crack’, Williams said he went home and asked his mother for money and when she told him she had none he went to her purse and took some, which he said he smoked all out in drugs.
From that day onward Williams was hooked on drugs and his life would change forever.
Powerless, unmanageable and depressed, Macho Man started stealing, lying and soon enough the police arrested him frequently for burglary. “My life had become real unmanageable. Couple months after I stopped bathing. At one time I didn’t bathe for like two years. Sometime I was conscious of what I was doing but the drug was just controlling me.”
It was only a matter of time before Williams was permanently on the streets. “My mother died shortly after and then my sister and by brother put me out so I was living in the street for close to like 20 years. I was on the street, homeless, powerless, dirty and stink.”
Turning Point
Williams said the decision to change after some 20 years of hopelessness was between God and him. “I suddenly came to myself that I was hungry, hadn’t taken a bath in years and was weak. I felt like I was going to die. It was a Saturday. I got up, looked around where I was through the bushes sleeping on a carton. It had rained and I was wet, imagine with all the hurricanes that passed through the BVI I was out there under the trees sleeping. I was very cold and lonely and I started to cry.”
Macho Man was suddenly not too macho to cry out to God. “I said God I need to change, I can’t take this anymore. This is not me and I don’t feel good about me anymore. I asked God to help me get to Sandy Lane.”
Frail and hungry but determined to get to Sandy Lane Centre, Williams said he began his journey on foot, however, he soon saw someone who he knew as ‘Frankie’, who after some hesitation, gave him a ride to the Centre.
“He say but how you look so? You smell bad. But I didn’t see you for all these years where were you? My face was unshaved and beards were very long and I was locks up. But he said where you wanna go?”
Williams said the man continued to complain about his foul odour but eventually offered him a ride. “He said he was going to do it because I needed help and he didn’t want to see me die...It was God towards him and towards me to bring me here.”
It was in the year 2009 that Williams knocked on the doors of the Sandy Lane Centre, where he said he was taken in and rescued.
“I came in crying, dirty and smelly. They told me to come in and they gave me soap, wash rag, toothpaste, towel and a tooth brush. After taking a nice bath I was told that I could not leave the yard since I was on six months probation.”
Williams said the journey to recovery at first was not an easy one but he was determined to remain focussed. “I started to put back on weight. I still had the urge and crave but had to do without it because you can’t get it in here. I couldn’t leave the compound because I would have been put out of the Centre...I wanted to come clean and get back my life together so I held firm, I followed the rules and I returned to good health.”
He expressed gratitude to the persons who encouraged him during his struggle to remain clean, including the Deputy Director of Sandy Lane Centre Mr Kelvin Fahie “who I think God inspired to keep me good. He stuck to my side, counselled me, show me the danger of everything even though I knew what it was doing to me but still my mind was not fully made up to accept the change so I was still feeling kind of shaky, but Mr Fahie stood by my side and encouraged me to be strong.”
Williams’ positive progress to recovery was also confirmed by one of the Counsellors at Sandy Lane Centre, Ms Sharon Leonard. “He didn’t have much of a mental illness because substance abusers get affected mentally after being exposed to the drug for a long time, so he didn’t have much of that to prevent him. After we let him go he continued coming as an outpatient so we can monitor him and so far he is doing well.”
Macho Man related how persons were often shocked but filled with joy to see his progress, especially his family. “When they see me some of them does cry because they knew what my situation was like in the past all those years but they greet me with tears of joy.”
He also noted that ‘Frankie’ is always very pleased to see that he has come off his addiction. “He does greet me highly whenever he sees me because I kept the faith and the reward is great from God.”
In need of a home
Now working at Solid Waste Department, Williams is seeking to rebuild his life and was pleased to note that he is no longer lonely since he has a girlfriend. However, he wishes to have a home and is seeking assistance for that. “Because I have a very beautiful girlfriend and I am going to marry her in due time but I don’t have a home to put her. I have a job at Solid Waste Department, I save my money even the wage isn’t all of that but I do put down a little piece now and then and am looking forward towards a home. So I am asking the Government to help me with a home so that I can carry on the true message to show the other weak addicts out there how good God is.
Williams also believes that it is his duty to help people recover from drug addiction and wishes to become a professional counsellor.
“I would like the Government of the Virgin Islands, the politicians especially, to look into my life and help me further my studies so I could be a counsellor and help the youths them out there to stand firm from using drugs and alcohol.”
Williams also advises persons who are using illegal drugs and those who may be addicted to turn to God for help.
“Everyone makes mistakes but not matter what struggles you have in life, turn to God and he will answer your prayers...Please also if you are addicted to crack or cocaine, please, it is a struggle but if anyone comes up to you and offer you drugs just say no. It is good to say no to drugs because it is a depressor.”
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33 Responses to “Recovering drug addict wants to become a professional counsellor”
Big Up Macho
But persons who want to be free of the uncontrollable desire or habit can only be completely free when they are determined to make a firm decision to change their lives around for the good of society and the preservation of themselves.
Mr. Williams is an example of a man who has chnaged his life..this is good news for all
what a cruel thing to say. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He has gone through Hell but was intelligent enough to realize it wasn't getting him anywhere. In the meantime, he went to the meat grinder to survive-- his beauty lies in dignity, humility, integrity, patience, trying to do the right thing. I find him quite noble.
What the hell do you have to be proud about?