'It leaves nothing but misery': Former substance users reflect on past drug abuse

Chuck Marshall began experimenting with drugs at the age of 12.

It began with cannabis — but by the time he reached high school, Marshall had graduated to different substances and harder drugs.

Throughout his life, Marshall said he hurt a lot of people and did a lot of things he swore he'd never do.

He credits Windsor's Brentwood Recovery Home for helping him reclaim his life and move away from drugs.

They say 11 people a day die in Canada of opiate overdoses- Chuck Marshall

"I just feel I owe my life to Brentwood," said Marshall, who has been sober for nine years.

Despite his experiences, however, Marshall still isn't sure how to adequately tackle the opioid epidemic.

"I don't have the answers, but maybe we can reach out to the schools and help before [students] get to high school and give them a message that there's a way out and here's what happens when you do this," he said.

On Tuesday, CBC News reported the number of opioid-related deaths in Windsor-Essex totalled 48 in 2018 — a jump of roughly 33 per cent compared to 2017.

"The numbers are crazy," said Marshall. "They say 11 people a day die in Canada of opiate overdoses. It's crazy."

"They're killing kids"

David Whitehead is also a recovering addict and Brentwood alumnus.

He believes that the opioid epidemic is in part caused by more powerful drugs created by individuals unaware of the impact of these substances.

"Now they have chemists out there trying to make it on their own and it's so potent," he said.

"They all think they're doctors and chemists ...  "- David Whitehead

"They all think they're doctors and chemists … and they're killing kids, they're killing people."

For Whitehead, drug use "leaves nothing but misery."

Whitehead has been sober for 10 years and credits his wife, as well as new friends, for helping him stay clean.

"I have a wife today that's the best thing that ever happened in my life," said Whitehead. "She stands by me."