Anyone who has struggled with alcohol or substance abuse knows just how difficult it can be to break the cycle of addiction. One man in Mirror Park is fighting hard to help others do just that, and by doing so, helps to save himself as well.
Oliver Langmore, a member of the Black Lotus Motorcycle Club, a prominent group who call Mirror Park home, began building Addicts Anonymous after recognizing his own need for help. Traditionally, motorcycle clubs tend to be known for their rowdiness and, well, their ability to drink and take drugs at an inhuman rate. However, according to Mr. Langmore his group is actually incredibly supportive of his efforts, attending meetings when needed and looking out for each other to be sure their fellow brothers aren’t in danger of crossing a line.
“We like our community and our club to be healthy. We can [drink] recreationally and still be healthy. People are always like, ‘oh that’s my best friend I’ll back them for life’ but are you backing them by enabling all their bad habits and pushing them closer to death every moment, or are you trying to get them to be the best they can be?”
Mr. Langmore is no stranger to drug and alcohol issues himself. A military veteran, he found himself sinking hard and fast into drugs and alcohol, especially after the death of a close friend. While his brothers were supportive, he found himself needing to pick himself up and start over alone, but it didn’t take long for him to realize he had made the best decision for himself.
“I got myself as clean as could possibly be, and the first group kind of solidified everything for me. We created our own 12-step program that was a little less Jesus and Faith oriented.”
Those 12 steps are part of their covenant and Mr. Langmore asked that they not be published but they have deep meaning for the members and he will be glad to share them with newcomers to the group.
“It’s a group that you can come to to talk about your addictions, a place to overcome them if you’re still early in the struggle. We just talk about things to get them off your chest, if things are triggering you as of late.”
The meetings have a simple structure, where Mr. Langmore tries to find one of their steps to focus on and use as a topic of the day, and then he opens the floor to anything members wish to discuss. You can also choose not to speak at all; there is no pressure to do so. Members can be facing any sort of addiction at all however it isn’t a requirement to join. Anyone currently struggling can join and talk or simply listen and gain wisdom and strength from other members. The only requirement of the group is that, as the name suggests, members remain anonymous, meaning nothing they speak of is to be repeated outside the meeting.
If you’re interested in attending, keep an eye out on Twitter and in the yellow page advertisements for information about how to find them. Meetings are generally on Mondays at 9pm.
For those interested in helping Oliver and his cause, there are many ways to do so. He’s already received extensive assistance from Mount Zonah and the Rangers, but they’re also in dire need of those willing to lead meetings, as well as other places to hold them. Please contact Mr. Langmore via telephone or text, or if you also wish to remain anonymous but want to help, use the Weazel Tip Line and we will communicate for you. The Tip Line can be found here: https://weazel-news.online/index.php/weazel-news-tip-line/
