'What willpower can't do': Stark confession of addiction at launch of substance use awareness week

Kelly Krawchuk'sblunt recollection of his journey of addiction runs from drinking at 12 years of age to becoming a "functioning crackhead."

In between,Krawchukhad a successful hockey career that took him to the U.S., a college degree and a job with an American company that eventually brought him back hometo open the firm's first Canadian office at a six-figure salary.

He attributesmuch of his success to a book onwillpower he read as a teen.

Krawchukwas part of akickoff for Manitoba Substance Use and Addictions Awareness Week. He spoke along with other stakeholders at the Manitoba Legislature on Monday.'

"Why am I'm telling you all this, about my hockey career and my big-paying job? It's just to let you know how absolutely awesome I used to be," Krawchuktold the audience. "And then I smoked crack. For the next 20years I figured out what willpower can't do," he said.

'Functioning crackhead'

Within a year Krawchuk'slife went from "doing all right" to "totally collapsed, basically."

As a "functioning crackhead," Krawchuksays, he barely kept astep ahead of his addiction, quitting jobs just before getting fired, and binging on drugs, disappearing for up to six days at a time and spending anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 at a time.

As his addiction cycled out of control, he says, the litany of disappointmentsto friends and family mounted.

He missed anniversaries and holiday get-togethers, events he planned himself, and critical moments as his wife struggled with cancer.

"I just about screwed up my wife's double mastectomy because I was out smoking meth for five days and then the real good one, when my wife was just about dying of chemo and I was out on a bender," Krawchuktold the crowd.

Finally,Krawchuksays, he got the lifeline to sobriety he needed before the addictionstookhis life.He began group therapy at the St. Raphael Wellness Centre as suicide became an option to the point of planning and realizing the pain of hurting his loved ones was overwhelming.

"They taughtme about triggers, they taught me about self-care, they taught me about false beliefs, communication, building healthy relationships, dealing with grief," Krawchuksaid.

'They save lives'

The list pours out of Krawchukas he winds up his speech, but he has a message to the crowd about placessuch as St. Raphael and the role they play in treating addictions.

"These facilities are saving lives. And that is the bottom line. You can say they are getting people sober and saving relationships, no no. They are saving lives and people need to know that," Krawchuk said.

Krawchuk, who's now completed a program that's taught him to become a recovery coach, credits St. Raphael for saving his life.

Now that he's sober, he has some advice for the government as it slowly unwinds its addictions strategy in the face of a growing meth crisis.

Krawchukrelapsed after he completed his initial drugtreatment.

"It's only my opinion, but I needed something after treatment the gap that I see is more halfway houses, more places[like] St. Raphael, communication learning, and learning about triggers and stuff. That's what people need when they get out [of] the programs," Krawchuktold CBCNews following his speech.

Drug treatment programs such as what is offered by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba can only go so far and last only weeks or sometimesmonths. Krawchuk says getting sober takes more time and help.

'I thought everybody started drinking around 12-years-old, that's the truth'

6 years ago

Duration 2:29

A recovering crack cocaine addict credits a Manitoba drug rehab program with saving his life. Kelly Krawchuk applauds province for putting the spotlight this week on substance use and addictions awareness.