Steven Archambault is one of the founders of Stonewall Recovery. After he and Brittney Sawyer realized that there is no suitable place for people who want to go into treatment and are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community they decided to change that.
Imagine a person grappling with addiction seeking treatment. As part of the detox process is to meet with an addiction counselor. The counselor, like Brittnay Sawyer in this case, collaborates with the individual, working to secure a suitable place for their recovery journey.
In a poignant instance, Brittnay assisted a trans woman in need of treatment. As they navigated the process, Brittnay faced a challenge – there were no available services adequately supporting her client. It was the first time in her career that Brittnay felt she had let someone down by not finding the necessary support.
The beginning of Stonewall Recovery
Determined to address this gap, she reached out to Steven Archambault, and together, they pondered how to aid the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in their time of need. A quick Google research confirmed the absence of suitable facilities in Canada for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community seeking treatment, according to Steven Archambault. Motivated by this gap, Steven and Brittnay founded Stonewall Recovery, Canada’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ addiction facility.
In partnership with Simon House Recovery Centre, they already support queer individuals in their recovery journey. Soon the organization wants its own facility, to be able to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community even better. “It’s really important because many of the people in the queer community won’t seek conventional help because of discrimination, because of retraumatization and the people who are out protesting our very existence also come into treatment.” says Steven. In order to create a safe and secure place for people to recover it is important to have organizations such as Stonewall Recovery.
Stonewall Recovery’s success
Brittney and Steven founded Stonewall Recovery in spring 2023. For Steven Archambault, some of the biggest successes are that Stonewall Recovery could advocate for people who are early in recovery. Being able to advocate for housing or for jobs and standing in somebody’s quarter is always a success for Steven.
“The individual success stories of the people are as many as we’ve had to come through the door or made a phone call or sent us an e-mail or a DM. Each one of those for us is a success”, says Steven because now they have a space to reach out to which they didn’t have before.
The uniqueness of addiction treatment within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
People that are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community face extremely unique traumas. Getting thrown out by their own family when they come out and suddenly being on the street or the fact that the likelihood of being sexually or physically assaulted by a family member increases by 37% for people who come out as young teenagers requires another view on how to support these people.
“The uniqueness of our program is not necessarily because somebody is queer.”, says Steven, “The uniqueness of our program is because somebody can talk about their experiences and the person sitting beside them will understand, will hold a safe place for them and won’t reject them just because of somebody’s belief structures that come out that are against the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”
Find out more about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and addiction in this video:
What people who know someone who is struggling with addiction can do:
- Get support for themselves through programs that offer support to people who love those who are struggling with addiction
- Create a safe space for the individual that is struggling and show them, that they are seen
- Listen to what the person who faces addiction has to say
- Don’t force somebody to get support and don’t give ultimatums, since treatment might not be effective if people are not ready
- Set proper boundaries so they don’t put themselves at risk since – depending on the addiction – it can be very risky
- When the person who is struggling is ready, support them – for example by reaching out to treatment facilities together
Reflection and closing thoughts
The Stonewall Recovery project is a beacon of hope for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Canada, addressing a critical gap in addiction treatment services. By establishing the country’s first specialized addiction treatment facility for this community, founders Steven Archambault and Brittnay Sawyer are not only providing essential support for individuals grappling with addiction but also creating a safe haven where unique traumas are understood and addressed.
The impact of Stonewall Recovery extends beyond individual success stories. It is a crucial step towards breaking down barriers that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community often faces when seeking conventional help. The project strives to counter discrimination, retraumatization, and societal biases, offering a space where individuals can embark on their recovery journey without fear of judgment or rejection.
In my interview with Steven Archambault, the commitment to advocating for those in early recovery is evident. The success stories are not just measured in numbers but in the profound change that the existence of Stonewall Recovery brings to the community. It serves as a platform for advocacy, pushing for systemic change in how addiction and mental health support are provided to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Through this project, it became evident that the unique experiences of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community demand a tailored approach to addiction treatment. It sheds light on the importance of understanding and addressing the intersectionality of addiction, trauma, and discrimination. Additionally, the necessity for community support, both from individuals and corporations, in the absence of sufficient government backing, is emphasized.
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