'I FELT AS THOUGH I HAD BEEN DISCOVERED'

Fred Catania (left) has done what he calls the "30-day spin cycle" of
treatment programs many times, but the monthlong residential
treatment programs for addiction never led to long-term sobriety.

It wasn't until he arrived at the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health
and Addiction in October 2008 that he felt like he had a home base,
that he belonged.

"I felt as though I had been discovered. When you are out there with
your addiction and you are living on the streets, you feel as though
nobody really knows you, and it's true," said the 45-year-old. "Here
. . . it's more long-term. You slowly start letting people back into
your life."

The consistent relationship with doctors has also made possible some
"really vital discoveries" for Catania, one of which may save his
life. He has learned he has an immuno-deficiency disorder.

"Had I . . . continued to use [drugs], it probably would have
continued getting worse without me even realizing," he said. "When
you are actively using cocaine . . . you don't really start feeling
these things until you go through the initial detox stage."

Catania knows he has survived a lot of hurdles. From university, a
career, marriage and a son to drugs, mental illness, homelessness and
time in a federal jail, Catania is no longer at his "bottom" where
"you have no options left."

Now his depression is more predictable and more stable.

"I can feel it coming on and I can take responsibility for it," he said.