Stacey's Story

Stacey Bowen calls herself “a person who loves service, who loves to help others, who loves to talk and tell stories.” But she didn’t figure that out until going through what she can only describe as her “downfall.” After experimenting with drugs in her teens, she was introduced to crack cocaine in her early 20s. Stacey experienced addiction to the drug for the next 18 years.

“But as soon as my next check came in, I would use again and again.”

Stacey’s lowest point in her addiction came on her daughter’s birthday. She had initially put money in a card, but when her daughter opened it, there was nothing inside.

“I opened her birthday card the night before so I could use the money to buy drugs. That’s when I realized how bad I was getting.”

Afraid of losing her kids, Stacey embarked on the long journey of recovery. At first, she went through the motions and played the role of “the good student.”

“I sat there and I did what I was told. But I didn’t grasp what it meant to be in recovery, what I needed to do to stay clean,” says Stacey. “I wasn’t doing the work. I didn’t have the coping skills to keep myself going.”

Stacey experienced a relapse before finding approaches to treatment that worked for her.

“I went to rehab three times. I learned about addiction. I went into a 12-step program and got a sponsor. I went to aftercare. I also had a therapist and addictions support worker.” says Stacey. “But being honest with myself—that was the most important thing for me. Because in my addiction, I didn’t tell the truth. And when I started to get my life back, I realized the difficulties that other people were going through, just like I did. So I want to tell the truth and tell my story to help others.”

That is exactly what she is doing. Now 63, Stacey has been in recovery for 15 years. She has a vibrant family life and loves spending time with her young grandson. She went back to school to prepare her for a career that gives her joy and purpose. She works as a full-time peer support worker at CAMH, where she brings her unique lived experience to support others facing mental health challenges.

“I really love my job. It takes a certain type of person to work at CAMH. You have to love people. You have to have patience. You have to be free of judgment,” says Stacey. “I’m proud of CAMH. I’m so proud of myself. And I am very proud of the people who come here for help and to work on themselves.”