Drug Addiction Stories & Info

Born in Alberta, 1982, and raised in British Columbia, Cory was, at the age of 5 able to read far in advance of his age.

However, with parents divorcing when he was 7, Cory was a troubled youth, who says that he went to around twelve schools before he was thirteen, including alternative programs. He was into drinking and drugging with his friends, and by the age of sixteen – this promising student quit school completely.

By age 19, worried family members put him into drug rehab, after an intervention, but Cory says – “I did the stint, but afterwards went back to exactly what I was doing before”.

 The turning point in Cory’s life – what might be called a spontaneous recovery, in fact was a result of many fortuitous circumstances happening at once, – enough to enable Cory to both question and then overcome the cycle of addiction that ruled his life. Not everyone is lucky enough to have everything in their favor,  at once, some will need professional, effective, and experienced help.

Having stolen money from family for drugs, he was told to get straight or he would be reported for theft to the police.

Knowing that he would be found out for the theft, Cory says that he now sees it as a cry for help – that was answered in terms that required him to take responsibility for his actions – to reconsider his drug abuse – and do something about it.

Although many children and youths flounder at that point, due to lack of effective support, Cory moved in with a family member, in a small town – where he was both offered employment as a roofer, and introduced to acting.

It was at this point that Cory decided that he was going to work out why he did drugs, to take a good look at his life. For the first time, Cory felt the satisfaction of “working hard” and being “good at something”.

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Monteith tells PARADE – a message for all – “I don’t want kids to think that it’s ok to drop out of school, get high – and that they will become famous actors too.”

In fact, for Cory there is, aside from the acting, a most important personal victory.

 He has obtained, through an alternative school – in Victoria, BC – his high school diploma.

And, in 2009, he re united with his father – after having virtually no contact with him, for over 17 years.

At some point Cory found forgiveness – of his parents and their faults.

It is often said that parents do the best that they can for their kids. It is not often that children can come to understand what this means – and totally forgive their parents for their mistakes, their failings.

Parents who do fail to love their children, and provide support, in every case will be found to have been, similarly deprived themselves.

As Cory says:  “At some point you realize that parents are human. They make the best decisions they can with the options available to them”.

It is for each and every one of us to take responsibility for our own lives, regardless of the conditions we suffered, in our family of origin.

Some people try drug rehab, do a “stint’ and fail to make a recovery. Recovery from drug addiction is not so much about giving up drugs, but about recovery from conditions that have made us feel unloved, and unlovable. It is about re-evaluating our lives – from a position of self esteem.

To a young child, abandonment issues, when a parent for whatever reason, is no longer there, can feel as bad as actual abuse from a parent who remains in the home.

As Narconon President Clarke Carr has said – in his experience -” drug addiction is most profoundly a consequence of a person lacking life skills.”

The understanding and confidence to deal with life often comes to people only after many years of reactive self abuse, and addiction.

For Cory, now a Canadian “star” – with many achievements on his record, the glitz and glamor of “stardom” holds very little attraction. Cory maintains sobriety – a balance and happiness.

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 ”I’ll go out, but I leave early, before the shenanigans. I really don’t do the Hollywood party thing”. 

“I’d rather watch sports, watch videogames, play sport, workout or sleep, to be honest”, he says.

Having a life of your own, that is hardworking and successful, that is independent of other people’s values, and what you feel that you “have to do” has been achieved by Cory.

For young people in Canada who have got themselves into drugs, and for their parents, the situation can feel overwhelming, with lack of communication, lack of understanding.

Not all drug rehab is the same, not all families have a capacity to provide that much needed help to those members who have turned to drugs, to parents who feel at a loss, unable to help their children.

Narconon is in Canada, an international alcohol and drug addiction recovery program that enables people of any age to become free of drug addiction. No matter what the history, or the type of drugs that have been abused, Narconon offers comprehensive help to enable complete addiction recovery.

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The Narconon program provides thorough detox and full support – enables complete drug addiction recovery.

Graduates of the Narconon program have come to be and to realize that they are “good at something” – happy, contented and productive, in their chosen field.

Some might choose to go on and achieve a higher education,

but most importantly,

 Narconon graduates have self esteem – are completely drug and addiction free –

ready and able to start a new life – free of the chains of the past.

Hockey star Claude LaPointe played fifteen seasons with NHL and has the distinction of having one of the NHL’s highest face-off win percentages. LaPointe ranked among the top three players for face-off win percentages – for the entire fifteen years of his NHL career.

 Claude played for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers.

Born in 1968, LaPointe grew up in Lachine, Quebec and even as a child loved the game of hockey. He went into the QMJHL as a teenager where he got paid for playing the sport that he loved. He only ever wanted to play hockey – even refusing an offer of a scholarship with Michigan University.

LaPointe was drafted in the 12th round of the 1988 NHL draft by Quebec Nordiques and spent most of his career with the New York Islanders – until he got into trouble with depression – and drugs, specifically cocaine.

 With the New York Islanders between 1996 and 2003, LaPointe received many awards including the Bob Nylstrom award – three times – that is awarded to players who demonstrate leadership qualities, and dedication to the game. He was recognized for having played over 800 games – in fact over a thousand including playoffs and pre-season matches. Claude also scored over 100 goals and was Assistant Captain to the New York Islanders.

During the 2002-03 season, LaPointe was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, with a two year contract, and retired in 2004.

A December 2003 press announcement indicated that LaPointe had voluntarily entered the NHL treatment program for depression that he had been self medicating for, supported by NHL doctors Dave Lewis and Brian Shaw.

Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke said – whatever has been going on – LaPointe is getting the help that he needs – and we’ll be here when he comes back.

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In about April 2004, LaPointe was given a clearance by the NHL to return to the game.

He went on to become a hockey coach and trains young hockey players – with an ability to bring Midget BB grades up to high Midget Espoir and AAA draft choices – in period of only three months. As a coach LaPointe is as outstanding as when a player on the field – saying that a key to success is understanding what each player needs to keep them improving beyond what they think they are capable of achieving.

Unlike many celebrities who hover between a life of addiction and periods “in recovery” – Claude La Ponte is today completely free of drug use – and completely recovered. His recovery and commitment to hockey is highly regarded – players that he has coached are sought after. LaPointe has a unique player focused approach that brings out the best in talented young hockey players.

In addition, Claude is now an ambassador for the “drug free life” – crediting Narconon with providing the program that got him completely free of cocaine use, his depression and addiction.

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In 2009, Claude LaPointe, as a former professional hockey player, signed up with Narconon to become a spokesman for Narconon and to join the fight against drugs.

The message that LaPointe gets across is that doing drugs and playing sport don’t mix. LaPointe speaks out against drug use to raise drug awareness in young people, assisting with the successful Narconon drug prevention campaign.

 see article:

 It was in 2009, that Narconon made a pledge to create a drug free Quebec – with a vision of drug free Canada, assisted by many dedicated people and organisations – including Claude LaPointe.

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 Such is the stigma of drug abuse and addiction that very often people maintain secrecy and public denial about their issues. When top name celebrities and sportsmen have problems with addiction – it is often covered up.

People with depression, feelings of low self esteem, problems in life that they don’t know how to resolve, often seek out addictive drugs and find a means of escape – famous people in the public eye are certainly no exception.

Claude LaPointe was respected for his acknowledgment that he had a problem and for making a voluntary choice to go into drug rehabilitation. No matter what problems and difficulties drug use might be causing you, a willingness to accept that there is a problem, and a willingness to enter treatment will give you respect – self respect and the goodwill of other people.

 Drug use today is a widespread and worldwide problem – you are not alone. Many people from all walks of life have fallen into drug addiction as a result of using drugs to try and resolve issues in their life.

 The message that sportsmen like Claude LaPointe, and Narconon hope to bring to young people is that doing drugs is never ok – and never a solution to what might feel like overwhelming problems.

If you have a problem with drug use – including alcohol – Narconon is there, and understands what you are going through. Anyone using drugs, who makes the choice to give up their addiction will get the help and support that they need for complete alcohol and drug addiction recovery at Narconon Trois Rivieres.

You don’t have to live in Canada, or Quebec to enter the Narconon addiction recovery program at Narconon Trois Rivieres.

Not all alcohol and drug addiction stories have a happy ending.

However, keep on reading until the end – and discover that endings where drug use is involved can be happy after all.

In 1950, newly discovered movie actress Barbara Payton, then aged 21, was contracted by Warner Brothers at a rate of $5,000.00 a week to play opposite James Cagney in the film “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” – a substantial increase on her previous retainer of $100.00 per week with Universal Studios.

For her performance in “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” Payton was widely acclaimed, recognised for her acting ability and natural talent - it could have led on to stardom, fame and fortune for Payton, as an outstanding actress.

 Instead the movie “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” turned out to be both the highest point that Barbara’s acting career would ever reach, its title an ominous premonition of a life that would be wasted, a future thrown away to alcohol, drugs, divorce, many short lived relationships, conflicts with the law and failure as an actress.

 Payton died at her parents home, where she sought refuge from her addictions in 1967 – not quite forty years old. Payton, with star potential in 1950, then aged twenty one, died at the age of thirty nine from heart and liver failure caused by years of alcoholism, and drug taking.

 Payton was a headstrong, attractive teen, and at 16 eloped with a boy from her school. The marriage was annuled, and without completing school, Payton went on to Hollywood to make a name for herself.

 Whereas today, megastars can get away with the flaunting of their addictions, wild partying ways, an apparent complete lack of responsibility, and still get by provided that they can manage to turn up to play their roles, back in the 1950′s those bound for stardom were expected to maintain a respectable image for the movie going public, no matter what turmoil was going on in their personal lives.

For young drug taking starlets today – indeed for everyone, Payton’s tale is a cautionary tale -against allowing drug and alcohol abuse to become a way of life.

 Payton’s second marriage was to a combat soldier, she bore a child and was an everyday housewife – with stardom in her mind. She first became a fashion model, successfully coming out as a fun loving party girl about town – that put an end to her marriage.

 Catching the eye of talent scouts – she signed up with Universal Studios in 1949, appearing in the noir film Trapped.

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye was also a noir thriller. Films noir were gangsta type movies, with themes of violence, pessimism, fatalism, and menace.

 about film noir

 Subsequent movies Dallas and Only the Valiant failed to bring out Barbara’s full potential as an actress. Her career prospects faded virtually overnight when she took on the role of Bride to the Gorillla, a horror movie, with only a few parts offered in low grade movies after that.

 Although Payton had many “affairs” – Howard Hughes, Bob Hope and George Raft to name but a few – it was her complex personal life, and marriages that made her a somewhat tarnished starlet – an image that did not suit the big time movie producers of the day.

 Whilst engaged to her third husband, an actor, she had an affair with another man, who eventually assaulted the fiance, leading Barbara to make a choice between them. She married her fiance only to leave him within weeks, to return to her former lover. Payton divorced her third husband in 1952

 Payton’s return to her lover, a B grade actor called Neal was considered scandalous even by Hollywood standards. Both used the publicity generated to promote themselves in touring theater, in which they both performed. They both appeared in The Great Jesse James Raid movie – an unremarkable western.

 Later, Payton proceeded to a fourth and a fifth marriage – both shortlived, ending in divorce.

As from around 1955 through to 1965, Payton’s life took a downward turn, she lost her looks, her good health, her vitality to alcoholism and drugs. No longer a spirited Charleston dancer, Payton became destitute – took to prostitution, became homeless. She slept on the streets, and was, as a prostitute, frequently assaulted.

 Drink and drugs finally made her so ill that she went back home to her parents house, where, in May 1967 she died, of drug and alcohol related illness.

 Payton had her autobiography “ghost written” – I Am Not Ashamed – a book in which the glory and the degradation are interwoven into a recollection of a life that was out of control:

   ” If the pressures don’t get you – the habits will.”

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 The Payton story could have ended as it did in 1967,  just another Tinseltown disaster,

but in 2007 noted author John O’ Dowd took up the story of Barbara Payton,

and in death offers her the truth, justice and respect that she, as a human being, deserves.

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 Tommy Lightfoot Garrett of Highlight Hollywood puts it perfectly when he says:

 ”In John’s book he tries to give a message of finding one’self before it is too late.

When we stop breathing, it’s too late.”

At Narconon Trois Rivieres – it is never too later to begin a comprehensive alcohol and drug addiction recovery program – get back in control of your life – and look forward to tomorrow.