EDITOR’S NOTE: Sarnia-Lambton is struggling with an unprecedented addiction crisis, generating plenty of news about overdoses and homelessness. But sometimes there is recovery. And it’s anticipated that new government investment in local services and facilities will bring additional relief. The award-winning team of journalist Cathy Dobson and photographer Glenn Ogilvie set out this past winter to find individuals who have experienced serious alcohol and drug addictions, and who found their own path to recovery. Below, you can find the full supplement which appeared in The Independent May 14, 2026.

Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Inititiave

“Hi, I’m Wayne and I’m an alcoholic.”

A friendly round of “Hi Wayne” fills the room as a Friday night Alcoholics Anonymous meeting gets underway in Sarnia.

About 70 people have gathered at a church hall for an open AA meeting, which, unlike most AA meetings, is open to everyone to hear the speaker and discover the premise of the 12-step program.

Alcoholics Anonymous has deep roots in Sarnia-Lambton, known as District 14. Since 1946, there’s been dozens of weekly meetings in area church halls, hospitals, and community rooms. In recent years, virtual meetings have added even more accessibility.

When people talk candidly about recovery, nine times out of 10, the program was an integral part of their success.

Wayne S. is tonight’s speaker. Anonymity is a way to encourage all alcoholics to seek support without shame or embarrassment.

“I’ve been 10 years in AA and it’s been the best 10 years of my life,” says Wayne who is a burly 77 year old with a handsome face weathered by years of hard living.

Growing up in Wallaceburg he was extremely aggressive, he says. His parents shared their good values, but he wasn’t receptive. “I was the black sheep, I guess.”

Drinking and anti-social behaviour began at age 13 and it landed him in prison for the better part of 30 years.

“I had no zest for life, no goals. When you have a bad attitude, you radiate that into society. I guess you can call it bad karma,” he says.

“The truth is that if you want to act right, you’ll be treated right.”

He experienced homelessness, stole from others, and was a “helpless drunk.”

The fact that he turned to AA for help at age 66 is a miracle, he says.

“I was finally honest with myself and I finally knew what I wanted,” Wayne explains. “I found support here and I found the support of a good woman.”

From a stage at the front of the hall, Wayne looks out at the crowd of men and women. They are from every walk of life. They listen intently, hoping to learn from this man who beat all odds and got sober.

“To new people here, I have this to say: Give yourself a chance,” he says. “Be good to yourself and be good to other people.”

“There is so much addiction out there today and it’s painful to watch. I see people hard-pressed to have the basics in life. They are homeless. They are hurting.

“We should be a hell of a lot more sympathetic,” he says. “If it wasn’t for AA, I’d be out on the street. And now, I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.”

Following his talk, Wayne is thanked by another AA member named Randy.

“There are miracles in this group and you’re one of them,” he tells Wayne.

AA meetings take place day and night in every community in Sarnia-Lambton. There’s no way to quantify how many attend but people in recovery frequently go to several meetings a day if they need it. Some attend sporadically.

AA’s concept of alcoholics supporting alcoholics is introduced to people in early recovery, so meetings are offered on-site at hospitals and recovery facilities like the HART Hub and Ryan’s House. Often, Alcoholics Anonymous and its sister organization, NA (Narcotics Anonymous), are the only support available in Sarnia-Lambton between early recovery and access to a therapist or a bed in a residential rehab facility.

For Wayne S., AA was the only way to sobriety.

He says he spent time in hospital, he went to Westover Treatment Centre, and he tried going cold turkey on his own. But nothing worked until he joined the program.

AA was founded in Ohio in 1935 by two men who formed a support group in order to get sober. Today, more than two million members worldwide in 180 nations attend the free AA meetings, which are run entirely by lay people sharing their experience, strength and hope.

Many studies have examined the success of the AA model, and one from the Stanford School of Medicine was particularly comprehensive. Researchers evaluated 35 studies and the outcomes for 10,000 participants. They concluded that AA was almost always found to be more effective than psychotherapy for achieving abstinence.

Stanford researcher Keith Humphreys said AA’s combination of emotional support and practical tips from others with lived experience appears to be what works.

During his talk in the church hall, Wayne S. told a story of meeting a man at a previous meeting who confided that he was going to kill himself.

“He came into that meeting and heard me speak and later told me that something I said made him feel like he’d be okay.

“I don’t get emotional often,” says Wayne. “But I do when I talk about that. When I see people turn their lives around, it’s the greatest gift I’ve received.”

Where to find help

• Alcoholics Anonymous – 519-337-5211 www.aasarnialambton.com
• Narcotics Anonymous – 1-800-573-0920 www.orscna.org
• Canadian Mental Health Lambton Kent – 519-337-5411 www.lambtonkent.cmha.ca
• 24/7 Canadian Mental Health Crisis Line – 519-336-3445 or 1-800-307-4319
• Drug Addiction Hotline – 1-800-721-3232
• Distress Line (Family Counselling Centre) – 519-336-3000
• Bluewater Health Community Addiction Support – outpatient and walk-in services, crisis intervention, counselling, treatment referrals, for people in Sarnia-Lambton who struggle with substance abuse. Phone 519-332-4673 or email possible@bluewaterhealth.ca. Location: Bluewater Health, Level 6, Russell Building, 89 Norman St. Sarnia.
• Bluewater Health Acute Withdrawal Management – includes inpatient, 7-bed unit for detox for three – five days. Self referral. Counselling. 24/7 519-464-4487
• Bluewater Health Ryan’s House Stabilization Facility, a second-stage withdrawal management facility. Offers 12 beds for men and women over 16 to stay up to one month for early recovery following detox. 306 Exmouth St. Sarnia.
• HART (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hub – recently opened in Sarnia. Two locations. 30-bed residential facility (up to 18 months) considered the third stage for recovery in Sarnia-Lambton, following detox and Ryan’s House. 275 Wellington St. (formerly SCITS high school).
• HART Hub drop-in at 210 Lochiel St. offers recovery support services, showers, laundry, a kitchen, health care referrals, help finding housing, employment, and mental health supports.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 9-8-8 (call or text)
• Community Health Integrated Care (CHIC Team) Daily, on-scene interventions, rapid response, withdrawal management.
• MobileCare – Community Health Outreach. Travels across urban and rural S-L with free, walk in services. No appointment required. Primary care, mental health care, addictions services, withdrawal management services and referrals. 1-866-299-7447. www.sl.mobilecareclinic.ca.
• Bluewater Methadone Clinic S-L at 118 Victoria St. in Sarnia. 519-337-5000.
• Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point Health Services for mental health and addictions at 6275 Indian Lane, Lambton Shores. 519-786-5647.
• Youth Wellness Hub – 190 Front St. for ages 12 – 25 and their families. Crisis/Walk in support, case management, psychotherapy, peer support, addiction services, nurse practitioner, drop in activity groups, fitness activities, family support, housing support and vocational services. 519-491-1466
• Redpath (Inn of the Good Shepherd on John St. Sarnia) Addictions treatment using an Indigenous specific model. Clinical and cultural approaches in a group setting. Call 519-344-1746 ext. 338.
• Lambton College personal and mental health counselling – available free to all full and part-time students.

Regional longer term residential rehab facilities:

• Westover Treatment Centre in Thamesville, call 1-800-721-3232;
• Renascent Addiction Centre in Toronto, call 1-866-232-1212;
• Residence at Homewood and Health Centre in Guelph, call 1-438-258-5460;
• Brentwood Recovery House in Windsor, call 519-253-2441;
• Hope Place in Milton, call 905-878-1120.