Despite my young age, my drug use escalated quickly and by my teenage years, I was using daily. My addiction took a devastating toll on every aspect of my life, from my relationships with family and friends to my education and career prospects. My compulsion to use drugs consumed me, and I found myself in and out of prison for extended periods of time.

My addiction took a toll on every aspect of my life, from my relationships with family and friends to my education and career prospects.

I am filled with a sense of gratitude for my journey through addiction and into recovery. It has been a long and challenging road, but I have emerged on the other side as a stronger, more compassionate, and more dedicated person.

For many years, I tried to quit on my own, but my attempts were always unsuccessful. It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I realised I needed professional help. In 2005, I entered rehab and began the long process of recovery. It was while being in rehab that Narcotics Anonymous came in and carried a message to me. They explained that there were people that was once addicted like me, that thought and felt like me living clean in the community. I had tried many ways of abstaining from drugs in the past and yet all my attempts had failed.

It was during this time that I discovered my passion for helping others who were struggling with addiction. After completing my own treatment, I started working in the addiction field, starting as a volunteer, and working my way up to managerial roles.

“I have studied counselling, Health and Social Care, Leaders and Managers, and coaching, and have trained to deliver personal development courses nationally in the UK. With 18 years of practical experience in the drug and alcohol field, I have gained valuable applied knowledge that has helped me support individuals in their recovery journey and the staff I have managed. While some of my theoretical knowledge may have faded over time, I stay up to date with the latest developments in my field through continuous learning, including attending training courses, reading academic literature, and participating in professional development workshops. With my wide experience in such varied roles I have learnt some really valuable skills.

My personal experience of addiction and recovery has been a fundamental part of my journey. I have learned vastly from my mistakes and have turned them into valuable learning experiences in both my personal and professional life.

In my work, I have started some and helped develop others a varied number of peer-led services in Portsmouth, Kent, and East Sussex and coordinated a whole program of work that was integrated through the whole of the system counties-wide. I have also led on the development of local, regional, and national councils and supported the development of a service user toolkit used for supporting the implementation of a large national program of work.

Over the years, I have worked in a range of roles in the addiction field, from commissioning teams, government to coordinating recovery communities for the largest drug and alcohol provider in Europe. Through each job, I have gained valuable experience and knowledge, and I have always remained committed to helping others on their own journeys to recovery.

Recovery is a lifelong journey, and I am grateful for every step of it. It has given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I never thought possible. I am proud to be a part of the addiction recovery community, and I hope that my story can inspire others to seek the help they need and to know that recovery is possible no matter what, or where you come from, or what you used.

One of my most impactful experiences was working with street children in Peru. Seeing the effects of addiction, abuse and lack of education on such young and vulnerable children was heart-wrenching, but it also fueled my determination to make a difference. I have also worked with ex-political prisoners in Northern Ireland, and my experiences in both Peru and Northern Ireland have taught me the importance of resilience, determination, and compassion in the face of adversity.

Looking back on my life, I am reminded of the importance of never giving up hope. No matter how difficult the journey may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that my story can serve as a source of inspiration for others who may be struggling with addiction, that it can provide a glimmer of hope for those who are searching for a way out. With hard work, dedication, and the support of others, recovery is possible.