Community hui in Napier to support addicts and whanau

Callan Jennings, Dave Blackley and Chris Jenkins are hoping to help current addicts get off P. PHOTO / Warren Buckland

Overcoming the shame and stigma of addiction and supporting whanau and family of addicts is part of the motivation behind a community hui being held in Greenmeadows tomorrow, and the creation of a new walk-in centre in Maraenui.

All are welcome to the hui that has been organised by a group of addiction support workers, keen to spread the message that support is available for those in need.

Co-organiser Tracey Benson said as well as hearing from people who have had their own battle with addiction, guest speakers would include representatives from Napier probation, Work and Income, Maraenui Community House, national support group New Zealand 'P' Pull, and the Maraenui community constable.

Chris Jenkins is an addiction support worker at Whatever It Takes trust who helped organise the hui, and he will also be volunteering at the walk-in centre that will be operating every Saturday morning at Maraenui Community House.

Now three years clean, he said drugs entered his life at a young age.

"My story began as a young fulla at school when I put a needle in my arm - over the years there's been drugs use, gangs and violence, and a long road to recovery - that's been helped hugely by the work I do."

His work included setting up peer support groups at The Lighthouse in both Napier and Hastings, and at Springhill Treatment Centre.

At Springhill it was about brokering connections for people while they were in treatment to support them once they were discharged.

"I'm passionate about helping people with their recovery.

"Society knows about addiction and how destructive it is, and think fixing it is about ultimatums and punishment, but they do not talk about recovery - that's down to the shame and stigma that's still attached to addiction.

"We have to break that down - what we really need is love, compassion and understanding."

Salvation Army worker Dave Blackley had also volunteered his time for the walk-in centre and said he had been clean for 10 years.

"I came through Springhill and run a men's group there as they are coming through.

"For me it's the two weeks after they leave treatment that's the hard part - we lose a lot of them during that time."

He said he was about building networks for people to support them during that two-week period and beyond, ensuring there was a familiar face around to assist with different aspects of life as they ventured on their own road to recovery.

He had spent time in jail himself and said he was about to start working with prisoners to help them with their integration back into the community.

"Ten years ago I never thought I would be going back into jail to help others get out of it.

"Recovery has given me a life beyond my wildest dreams."

Struggling with dyslexia all his life had been a hurdle for Callan Jennings, who was 20 months into his recovery journey and was focused on helping people with similar learning difficulties.

"I always used to think if I could fix the dyslexia, I could fix the drug problem, but it's actually the other way round."

Tasks such as filling out forms post-rehabilitation were scary for people in his position and he said he was passionate about changing the system to make life easier for others.

The hui is being held at the Salvation Army building at Tait Drive, Napier, tomorrow from 12pm to 3pm.

The walk-in centre will operate every Saturday, from 10am to 2pm, at the Maraenui Community House.