I’ve been on drugs since I was 17 years old. I grew up in a family of drug dealers and criminals, and I thought that this was the life meant for me. My only influence in life spent most of his life in and out of prison. So I started to follow in his footsteps. After becoming addicted to heroin my life rapidly changed, stealing from family, friends and anyone else. I soon became very isolated and bitter, nobody wanted to know me, but how could I blame them? I didn’t even like me. I started a steady slide down, robbing people at knife point and a lot of violence just to get what I wanted, DRUGS.

Every crime was justified to me, everyone else was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s the way that I was thinking due to my use of drugs. Drugs usage made it easy for me to commit crimes. Due to committing so many crimes I spent most of my teenage year in prison, and most of my adult life too. I’d finallyhad enough, after being released from my last sentence. I hated myself and realised that I needed help to change.  Eventually I arrived at rehab seeking help. 

Touchstones supported me through a lot of issues. I was helped to address my drug issues and my criminal behaviour. It felt strange to me to feel that people at Touchstones actually cared, as previous experience taught me different. I was given a lot of trust here at Touchstones and made to understand that no matter what, my recovery is a personal responsibility and as such the most import thing to me today. After being abstinent for thirteen months, I’m finally moving on. Thanks to everyone, it’s been a tough journey but worth it for what I have now achieved – a better life! 

Thanks to T12 and my peers.