If you were only going to watch Bif Naked perform, it would be well worth it. But there are a lot more reasons to drop by the Recovery Festival on Sept. 10 in New Westminster.
It’s not the first time there’s been a recovery festival – this is the sixth one held in B.C. since its inception. But it is the first time in New West.
It’s a terrific concept and a great contradiction to the stigma around addictions. The goal, of course, is to celebrate recovery and model hope for those who are facing the battle with an addiction, or multiple addictions.
Like cancer, few families have escaped the impact of addictions. Drugs, alcohol, eating, gambling, shopping, exercise – the “item” the addiction attaches to can be almost anything. But the hold that an addiction has on people can be paralyzing. Families are torn apart, homes are lost, and, of course, addictions can lead to death.
There is usually no talking someone out of an addiction. By the time someone is truly addicted to a behaviour or substance, the road back to recovery can be rough and long.
And one of the hurdles those addicted and their families face is the tremendous stigma attached to being labelled “addicted.”
It is still seen as a sign of weakness or lack of self-discipline. It is still considered shameful and something to be kept secret.
Indeed, until we can look at addictions as we look at diseases such as cancer, the stigma will continue to keep people silenced and isolated. And that will only encourage the feelings of hopelessness and reinforce the cycle of addiction.
A festival to celebrate a day of recovery is just the right thing to remind people that they have allies in this fight. That no one is immune from addictions or the impact of addictions on others. That there are people who will listen and share your pain, but who will also celebrate your successes.
New Westminster is a great town to have this kind of festival in. It’s home to quite a few recovery centres, and its political leaders and citizens understand that a community is only strong if it knows compassion and acts to help others.
