Testimonies

Testimonies from recovering Addicts

Meet the people who have broken the chains of addiction in their lives 

Ade's Story

I was born in 1965 in Aberystwyth. My Father was emotionally distant and my Mother was a very loving, caring, hippy.They divorced when I was 7 and I lived with my mother.
At the Age of 11 I moved to Leicester with mother and stepfather. Family life was difficult living on eggshells with abusive stepfather.
Aged 14 I started drinking and was occasionally allowed to make homebrew
16-17 Left home and was at college drinking heavily every weekend.
18 Started work in various jobs. Work hard and play hard – a functioning alcoholic.
23 Got married and had 3 kids in 5 years. Wife didn’t drink but I drank heavily.
29 Got divorced
30 Got married again. Wife made me cut down drinking to weekends only. Had 2 daughters. Wife had an affair and we got divorced. I had a very good job and drank heavily until I got custody of the kids and then radically cut down.
41 My mother died and then there was a lengthy custody battle which I lost. I drank to oblivion and lost the house a year later resulting in me being homeless in Leicester for 2 years. I met someone and we got a flat together. My daughter came to live with us, but I was drinking heavily again. Split up from partner, my daughter went to live back at her mums, and I was homeless again.
I moved to a hostel in Loughborough and eventually rehab where I stayed for a year. My health improved greatly, both physically and emotionally.
I then moved into a council flat with the intention of making a home for myself and my partner who at the time was in a rehab in Nottingham. Whilst getting on with life, I suffered shock trauma by my daughter's suicide.
Shortly after, my partner died and I lost the will to care and drank myself into oblivion.
In 2020 I was rescued by FAIR who paid for a detox. I arrived at Exaireo rehabilitation centre, a broken man, close to death.
Present day – Life is getting better daily and I’m over 3 months clean. I have put on over 2 stone in weight. Mentally I am still damaged but through counselling, the program and God, I am really positive about my future.
5 months ago I didn’t anticipate being alive in the new year, but thanks to my detox and aftercare I see a bright and positive future ahead.

Zoe's Story

In 2010 I had been using drugs for 26 years.

The last 15 being the most problematic as I battled with heroin and crack daily and had no idea how to stop.

I had moved cities twice, attended numerous daytime drug services and had been on Methadone and Subitex prescriptions for 13 years but I still couldn’t stop using.

I reached my mid 30’s and I knew I couldn’t carry on with this life any more.
I asked my key worker about the chances of a residential detox In March of 2010 and within a couple of weeks he told me I had a date that they would take me...13th September that same year.

From the moment I walked in the door, although nervous, I felt immediately cared for and that I was in the right place.

The next 28 days in there were tough but with the love and support of the most amazingly professional and caring staff I began to learn how to recover.
I recently celebrated multiple years of abstinence and I truly believe I couldn’t have achieved that without them.

They were the start of my incredible journey into this wonderful new life and I will be forever grateful to them.

If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol please don’t give up hope there is so much help out there for people like us.

WE CAN recover with support from others. X

Garry's Story

Today I am very grateful to be just over 3 years clean of all mind altering substances and a life of crime.

It wasn't always like this for me. I was born and raised in leicester and I had a good childhood, probably too good if I am honest. I was an only child and got everything I wanted, which probably added to my addictive behaviour later on in life. I never learnt the understanding of the word No. As a teenager I started drinking and smoking weed at school and on the park and because I am a big lad I was the one who always got served in the shops. I cant make this blog into a full life story, but that behaviour at such an early age made a foundation for what would turn into 20+ years of violence, crime and substance misuse. My addiction progressed to heroin and crack cocaine and I became one of the most prolific shoplifters in the UK. I was subsequently banned from every shop in the UK and I racked up just under 100 convictions. All these years I spent doing what I was doing and I thought I was building a kingdom for Gaz but when that kingdom was taken away from me which was the house where I used to deal from, it was then Gaz's kingdom came crashing down around him and the only thing this self made king had left was a tent in the woods.

It was after this I found myself on another prison sentence in Nottingham. It looked like I was due to be released back to what I knew but somebody offered me a placement in a Christian rehabilitation centre and I took it. It was here that I found a faith and a power that was greater than me but also for the first time in my life, I found a circle of people that only wanted to see me get well, wanting nothing in return but to see me set free from years of addiction and all that went with it. Without the treatment centre and the people who guided me through the 12 month rehabilitation programme I wouldn't be where I am today, which is a responsible dad, a loving son, and I am now the senior support worker within that centre passing on the message of recovery and the Good News to all the lost and broken.

I always like to have a little laugh at this and i pinch myself because Me, “YES ME, GARRY KINTON” I drive a car today that is taxed and insured. I even pay a water bill for the water I use which I never knew you had to do. So if I can give a clear message to anyone who is suffering in a life of addiction then reach out because there are treatment centres across the country that can help transform your lives like they have mine.

Come on, Get Ready!

Avril's Story

After 30 of continuous drinking and substance abuse my life was taking a downward spiral which was affecting me mentally, physically and emotionally. By this time I was in no doubt that my life was unmanageable but still I battled on.

After an ongoing succession of arrests, police cells, hospital admittances and waking up out of black out in some very scary places, painfully, I had to admit defeat. I had been at war with alcohol and drugs and it had beaten me. (Who in their right minds wants to admit that?) I had lost my self esteem, dignity, self respect and passion. I knew if I didn’t stop I would loose everything. But I tried and I couldn’t stop. 

One night at my sister’s apartment in Spain after drinking heavily and waking up at about 4am with no alcohol in the house I was in sheer panic, out of desperation I began to pray and ask for help. That afternoon as we reached the airport to return home we were told we had missed our flights. My sister had looked at the arrival time and not the departure time. Ten minutes later I suffered a brain haemorrhage. I underwent 2 lots brain surgery. The surgeon had informed me that if we had of got on the flight that day; with the cabin pressure I would have been dead, for me I couldn’t help thinking there was someone listening to my prayers. After that I stopped drinking and drugging for 18months on the back of fear. The fear left and once again I picked up a drink and was back in the madness within 2 weeks.

I picked up the phone and called a member of AA who I had met after sporadically attending meetings, usually after each drinking disaster. I asked her for help and the next day I was in a 12 step treatment centre full of fear and shame. The centre helped me to understand the illness of addiction, look honestly at myself and showed me a programme to manage my life without drinking 1 day at a time and slowly I began to reprogram my mind and cope with my emotions.

I left the rehab and took onboard their suggestions: - I attended regular meetings and got a sponsor immediately, I did the work, I spoke to others in recovery on a daily basis. I got involved with the fellowship and tried to help others and put my trust in the programme. I have continued to do this for a while now and I have been clean and sober since August 24 2013.

Today I lead a totally different life, I have a beautiful relationship with my son and all my family, a loving partner, a job I love, beautiful friends, a happy home and a healthy lifestyle doing things I never even imagined I would enjoy.

I have completed a BH Honours at university; I have trained as a qualified teacher in meditation and attend lots of yoga retreats and holistic therapies and events. My life is calm and peaceful and I wake up in the morning and smell the coffee!!

Recovery and AA turned on my light woke up my eyes, mind, heart and soul to everything that is good in my life today. I’m not saying it’s been easy but it’s been worth it. So if you want what we have and are ready......... PLEASE ASK FOR HELP xx

Richard's Story

My name is Richard and I am an addict. 

I was an active addict for around 20 years. I've been called a "functional addict". I had all the trappings of success, wife, daughter, house, car, job. None of that mattered. Something inside was missing. There was some kind of hole in my life which I filled with alcohol. I didn't need a reason to drink, just being conscious was good enough. 

Towards the end of my drinking career, things were pretty bad. I had tried to take my life on a couple of occasions. My relationship with my wife and daughter was non-existent. Alcohol was the only constant in my life, my only friend and the only thing I cared about. 

Eventually I got caught drink driving. This was the final straw. Facing a custodial sentence, it was suggested, not for the first time, that I go to rehab. Thanks to the support of my family, I was able to afford to go to a facility for 3 months in May 2018. I have now been clean and sober for over 2 years and life is amazing. 

The treatment I so desperately needed is not always available to those who need it. Addiction recovery is dangerously underfunded while the cost of addiction to the individual, their family and society is huge. 

IF you can help get someone into recovery, no matter what the program, please do. Time is not on the side of an active addict. Often they can't wait for one of few funded places available nationwide and the destruction they leave in their wake will just continue to grow. Give someone a chance and donate to FAIR. 
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