Having started his drug use by smoking cannabis with his friends, Jack eventually progressed to using cocaine and other ‘party’ drugs. This went on for about 10 years. Unfortunately, Jack’s drug usage progressed from casual to every few days to using every day quite quickly:
“I thought, because of the stereotype around cannabis, I would be fine - I could smoke it every day and I wasn’t an addict. This was until cannabis just wasn’t enough for me anymore.
“It took me a long time before I realised the damage I was doing to myself and the people around me. It took me getting addicted to morphine. This was my rock bottom. That drug was the final straw. It made me deceitful, angry, and emotionless.”
For the past two years, Jack has attended sessions with The Forward Trust and Open Road in Southend. This was an exceptional achievement for him because he’d never actually asked for help before; he’d always felt unsure about where to find it.
Attending these sessions inspired Jack to get off drugs. In early 2024, Jack was introduced to his key worker and began to feel as if his recovery journey was beginning:
“My life changed from that first session. I identified so much with my key worker and the session just came at the perfect moment - I was finally ready to stop.”
Supported by a key worker from the Southend Treatment and Recovery Service, was delighted when he realised his ultimate life goal: he stopped using drugs. Since then, he’s made new friends, no longer feels isolated and importantly, Jack’s made progress in repairing his existing relationships and now feels content in himself:
“I am so grateful for the help I received at Southend ... they got me socialising with other addicts and made me feel like I wasn’t on my own - something I’d felt for years.
“I’ve gained so much in life since I’ve stopped using. I strongly urge anyone struggling to come to the service and just try it out. If it can work for me, it can work for anyone.”
