Heal aims to supports local addicts and offer accountability

Healing Educating Addicted Lives (Heal) hopes to help addicts recover by offering group support to them and their families throughout the journey.

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During their recovery journey addicts are held accountable by facilitators, volunteers and fellow members of Heal.

To learn more about this public benefit organisation (PBO) Bedfordview and Edenvale News met with facilitator Brian Maine and founder Graham Moore.

Heal was founded by Graham and Judi Moore in 2005 after Graham went to rehab for alcohol addiction.

After several months of treatment, the idea to help others came to Graham.

“I never knew God. I met the Lord in rehab and after leaving rehab I just wanted to help people, that’s where the idea came from,” said Graham.

The PBO assists addicts of substance abuse, alcohol abuse and process addictions – sex, porn, cutting, eating disorders and other types.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes helping people. I’ve almost gotten in trouble.

“That’s when the idea came to start a support structure, support groups for guys who are battling with addiction and recovery and needed accountability and encouragement on their journey.”

Graham said a large part of Heal focuses on creating support groups not only for addicts but for their family members too.

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With 12 existing groups, Heal is established across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape. It also has four digital groups.

Graham said the organisation has assisted addicts to remain clean for close to 20 years.

It has weekly meetings which Graham explained are similar to group therapy.

“We help the guys with whatever challenges they are going through. We also hold each other accountable in the meetings.”

Ways in which members hold each other accountable include setting goals and doing drug tests.

“A lot of members request being tested, so we do urine tests. This also forms part of the accountability concept.”

Besides hosting group therapy sessions, each group helps set up relapse prevention strategies or host family meetings where necessary.

Graham said in instances where professional treatment is required Heal will refer to professional services.

“Addiction is a hard thing to work through and we encourage the guys, the days you don’t want to come to meetings are the days you need to be there,” said Graham.

Graham has observed over the years that when the family unit works cohesively, addiction recovery is more successful.

“Although the family also goes through trauma, they also need to learn how to be a supporter and understand principles of recovery.”

Graham said in most instances supporters often became co-dependents and enabled a situation.
Brian explained a core concept of Heal is honesty.

“At meetings, we explain to people that we are there to help them but can only help them so long as they are open, honest and vulnerable,” said Brian.

“There is no story that can surprise anybody.”

He said everyone in the groups is in the same position.

“The nice thing about how the group runs is everyone can help each other by sharing their experiences.
Brian said Heal makes use of a 12-step programme.

Speaking about overcoming his addiction Brian said he smoked weed every day after work while working as a chef.
He began smoking weed at the age of 15 years old.

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Brian said after leaving school, he fell in with the wrong crowd and began using acid and cocaine.

“As soon as I started with cocaine, I could feel in a few months that I couldn’t go out without a gram in the pocket.

“I associated with those guys and then it kicked off.”

In 2000 while studying to be a chef, Brian met his wife-to-be.

Brian said after she came back from the USA in 2006 the pair got back together.

Speaking about life in the kitchen, Brian said it could be rough.

“With people throwing pans, the day is hectic and to detach from that to be with my wife and child I would smoke a joint on the way home.”

For 15 years that was Brian’s ritual.

However, after some time, Brian realised the weed was making him too lethargic and he wasn’t interacting with his family as he should.

To counteract the effects of the cannabis Brian would buy two beers on the way home.

“I would down the quarts in the car park and then go home with a buzz.

“But then after six months, I started to realise I was becoming an alcoholic.”

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Brian said he couldn’t do without the drinks.

“It became three drinks, then it became four and before I knew it, I was buying a six-pack.”

Brian said shortly after his wife gave birth to his son, she gave him an ultimatum to get clean.

“The problem with that was that I was getting clean for her,” said Brain.

“I went to South Coast Recovery Centre and was doing everything to get out so my wife would be happy.”

Brian said after telling all the counsellors what they thought they wanted to hear, his wife sent a collateral letter.

Brian said this collateral letter stated the complete opposite information he had told the counsellors.

“I was two days short of six months and the counsellors told me that they don’t trust what I say anymore and kicked me out.”

After his wife told him that he is not allowed to return home, Brian decided to commit to sobriety.

From then Brian went to Healing Wings where he spent six months.

“After spending six months at each centre I felt that I still needed an extra three months.

“After 20 years of addiction, I wasn’t going to fix it slap-dash, this was my only chance.”

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Brian explained he had already joined Heal before becoming clean.

“Most guys do that, Heal is the first step to admitting there’s a problem.”

Contacts for Support Groups in the area:

Bedfordview Cornerstone Church – Monday 19:00: Bruno 072 875 2873 or Lynn 083 266 7670.

Edenvale Newday Church – Tuesdays 19:00: Bruno 072 875 2873 or Neal 084 525 8817.

Maranatha Community Church – Tuesdays 19:00: Graham 082 448 3351 or Judi 073 831 1823.

Visit https://www.healministries.com/ for more information.

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