RED DOOR RECOVERY
What wonderful speakers we had on Monday. Blain Collinge and Justine Hamill spoke to us about the organisation they manage called Red Door Recovery. A drug and alcohol treatment service based in Upper Hutt in a tranquil rural setting. The Kaupapa they work by is in the 'belief that healing happens through working deeply on ourselves together, through connection, aroha and whanau’. A holistic approach that does not use blame or shame to achieve results.
Red door began 11 years ago by Blain's parents, in their own home. This was a home where drugs and alcohol were prevalent, and over time Blain attained his own lived experience of knowing what it was like to transition from a child into a life of dependency himself.
Thankfully, a decision was made by his dad to forge a new life free from the burdens he himself carried, and Red Door was born. He started this journey with a purpose of being able to help his son who by this stage, had experienced life in prison due to increasing criminal activity.
During this time Blain was dealing with his own feelings of disconnection from his family. He felt insecure and unloved and uncared for. He understands his connection with drugs and alcohol fed those feelings to the point that five years and one month ago he tried to end his life by suicide. I like to say it was by the ‘Grace of God’, Blain met someone who finally gave him some hope in his life. This person listened and then uttered the sentence that changed his life forever. He said; “Just give this life one more go”.
When he was ready, and when his life made sense once again, was the day Blain decided to carry the legacy started by his parents forward with passion, and fierce dedication. It has led to caring deeply for our Tangata whaiora (our living people). Today Blain is five years clean and sober. Life is vastly different for him.
Blain and Justine met when he entered the Red Door Programme.
Justine Hamill is Blain’s fiancé, a self-proclaimed addict in recovery, and now co-leader alongside Blain. She is a Psychotherapist who is now completing her Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Mental Health and Addiction. Justine believes whole heartedly in Red Door and the recovery methods used to help the people they work with.
Today their programmes are rich in helping others to break the cycle, to learn and to grow and to reclaim their mana in order to have better lives for the future. It maintains group therapy including art, music, kapa haka and reconnecting family dynamics where able. It is 100% built on trust with a two-year aftercare service available. Blain quickly states this often means forever.
To date the programme can boast a 67% success rate. Not stopping there, they offer an open-door policy for those who need a helping hand if they lapse in any way. Their numbers are small – around 8 to 9 at a time which allows a closer interaction between participants.
Blain and Justine spoke candidly of how addiction has become worse with time and receiving help is often hindered by cost. Those that take advantage of the recovery programme are often by self-referral or by word of mouth. They have a policy of accepting those in need and working out the details later.
There is no Government funding for this organisation.