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Recipient
Adam Wilson receiving his award from presenter Dr. Loren Grossman,
Vice President, Research & Development, Eli Lilly Canada and emcee
Andy Barrie.
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Sault Ste. Marie
Young role model for healthy living has faced schizophrenia and multiple addictions
Adam Wilson is 23 years old. He has faced addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling, and he lives with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and major depression.
Adam's father had an alcohol and drug problem and was abusive to his family. His mother left and took Adam to a crisis shelter to escape from his father. His dad went into treatment but ended up committing suicide when Adam was 10 years old. Soon after, Adam began smoking cigarettes, which quickly progressed to drug use and weekend drinking.
Adam quit school when he was in Grade 9. He went through a series of living accommodations including living with a friend, a halfway house and a church, which evicted him for smoking in his room. He finally moved in with his brother where his heavy drug use continued. He began to deteriorate physically, and at one point his mother intervened and took him to a treatment centre. After two weeks, Adam would still not eat or drink. When his body finally started to shut down, he was transferred by ambulance to the hospital where he was started on a course of antidepressants.
Throughout his time in hospital, Adam remained unresponsive and would not talk to doctors. Shortly after turning 17, he was transferred to another facility where he was prescribed antipsychotic medication and he began to eat properly. At this time, Adam was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Against recommendations, he checked himself out of the hospital after only a few months. He moved back with his brother, resumed drinking and began to abuse his medication.
This lasted a year before he began a day treatment program when he was 18 years old. When he entered the program, he was very lethargic and non-communicative. He would often come into the centre mid-month, having run out of food and money. His teacher in the program soon discovered that Adam had developed an expensive gambling habit. Adam spent five months in treatment and eventually, he began to develop a healthy lifestyle including proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, medications and attending counseling. After completion of the program, he began upgrading his literacy and basic skills.
Adam has managed to control his spending and gambling impulses. He is tobacco and drug-free, monitors his weight, diet and exercise, manages his budget and has moved into his own apartment. He assists the day treatment program with its Adventure-Based Learning Activities, which include rock-climbing, repelling, canoeing, hiking, kayaking, biking and skiing. Adam also finds time to act as a mentor and companion to a younger, newly diagnosed schizophrenic boy who is now attending the program. The boy's mother says that Adam is not only an inspiration to her son, but also to her. His educational goal is to enter the forestry program at college. Adam has fought hard to overcome some of the obstacles he faces every day, and his accomplishments are an inspiration to all of us.
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This page was last modified on February 5, 2003 9:31 AM .
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