Charlie Furlong, Gwich'in leader, on getting and staying sober

Like many northerners his age, Charlie Furlong started drinking right after residential school. "I started very young, when I was 16 I think, just coming out of school, Grollier Hall," he says.

Now the mayor of Aklavik, N.W.T., Furlong remembers it as a different time. 

"In them days there was so much drinking all over. Lots of money in the region. Oil companies were all here. A lot of us started drinking and it became a real habit that we couldn't get out of."

Furlong led a rich and varied life: co-founding the Gwich'in Tribal Council, working with the Mé​tis Nation, serving on several boards, running businesses and most recently, serving as mayor of his home town. 

But his addiction was part of it. 

"I was in my 40's before I finally saw the light," he told the CBC, as he shared his story during National Addictions Awareness Week. 

Hitting bottom

"In those years I really ruined my life and my opportunities that were there for me all the time," he says. 

"It was quite the battle. I was getting more sick. Not even enjoying myself. I realized I was hurting my family and those around me.

"Finally, that last Christmas in January I was drinking really heavy. I was by myself. I didn't know what to do.'

Furlong got help from his large family. A cousin, Debbie Greenland, sent him off to treatment.

"Auntie Persis did really talk to me and told me to leave that stuff alone now. It's going to kill you. A lot of people were telling me to quit. I knew I had lots of people on my side."

Singing Sober

Furlong, a musician, had to learn to sing sober.

"I found it quite difficult at times. I made mistakes when I was singing because before that I was half cut and that's when the music really came out of me. So getting used to performing and singing sober was quite a challenge, but I got past that.

"People still joked around with me. 'Come on, just one drink wouldn't hurt.' They just laugh, eh. I was strong enough to not be tempted," he says.

"A lot of my friends came up to me and told me straight up that they didn't want to be around me because they didn't want to be a temptation.

"Over the years we grew a little bit apart. Some remained friends, but some are gone forever... That's the sad part of it is you realize who your real friends are. But then again, on the other side, you realize there's a lot of support."

Words of advice

"After I quit drinking there were a lot of opportunities that came my way. I was given work and elected to important positions... appointed to some good boards."

Furlong was lucky to have a big supportive family. He says people wanting to sober up need more after care in the communities.

"That's the big problem. There's really nothing. You go out to these treatment centres and you come back. You're thrown into the community and there's really nothing for you to fall back on. 

"It's pure willpower and trying to stay away from the stuff and keep yourself busy. I guess that's the problem some people have. They need after care and there's just nothing for them and so what they do, they just fall right back into it.

"I always tell younger people: 'One of these days you are going to wake up and realize these addictions are destroying you.' 

"It may take 15 or 20 years, but one of these days it's going to happen and there'll be no looking back. Don't be discouraged. Keep facing your problem and telling yourself: 'I'm going to beat it some day.'" 

Today Charlie Furlong is sober and still singing. 

"George Jones is still alive in me."