 Steve Duerden is at present going
through his rehabilitation for alcoholism. My name is Steven and I am twenty-five. I first started drinking when I was fourteen. It was just a case of experimenting with friends. When I started working and getting a bit more money I would go out at weekends, just socialising to start off with. After a while I started drinking on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It got to the stage that I was going into work late and with hangovers, so I wasn't really able to concentrate. I lost quite a few jobs through drinking. When I had no money I began taking items from my mum's house, like money and jewellery. I did a couple of burglaries and they got into the local paper. My mum found out through her friend. She went to work and this woman pointed it out to her. She came home from work straight away and kicked me out. That was fair enough really because I didn't tell her. I realised that I had a problem from then on. I started staying in hostels. The first one I stayed in was Police Street in Darwen. That was back in 1999. I stayed there for eleven months. It was a horrible experience and I wouldn't wish it on anybody. The people there were a bit rough and ready. When you have been brought up in a nice way it's a really culture shock. There were drug users there and people who had just come out of prison. I got beat up a couple of times. On pay days we all used to sit around on Blackburn market and get drunk.. After eleven months I got sick of it and packed my bags. I walked to Blackburn and tried to find somewhere to stay. The Salvation Army took me in. I thought I would be alright. I stopped drinking for about a week. Then I got into the wrong crowd again and began drinking in the steeple, which is part of a derelict church. The Captain of the Salvation army found me in my room with a three litre bottle of cider. I had already had a couple of warnings about my drinking, so he kicked me out. For a couple of days I was sleeping rough. A mate then put me up at his house. At this time I was just drinking day in and day out. I was borrowing money off people, telling them it was for food but it was for drink. I had a good friend, Ian, and I would use him to get money for the drink. I didn't feel too good about that. The mate whose house I was sleeping at moved on and I ended up sleeping rough for about nine weeks. When I was sleeping rough I was coming down to the Drop-in at St, Anne's House for my meals. A worker there, John, saw me on the street drunk. I had collapsed and the next day I went in he had a word with me. He told me about the Reconcile project. That was in July of last year. From then on I started coming down a few times a week to the Support Group and to see a mentor who T.H.O.M.A.S. allocated to me. When I got my dates to enter the Reconcile project, which is a twelve week drug rehabilitation programme, I was really pleased. From then on I started to cut down my drinking. Th is project has changed my life and it's very rare that people get a second chance. I didn't think it would ever happen. At the worst time, the amount of alcohol I was drinking was between ten and fourteen litres a day of cheap cider. I used to get up some mornings and I was sweating and shaking but I needed the alcohol. The first drink of the day I used to drink it over the sink because I knew I would be sick. I had to drink it to stop the shakes because I couldn't socialise without it or go out because I would have anxiety attacks. I would also suffer paranoia. After a litre and a half I would be more confident and could get on with the day. One morning I woke up and thought I don't need this, it's not me. I wanted to change my life and now I am doing. It's brilliant. I've got two brothers, Adam and David, and a sister called Tracy. My two brothers live at home and Tracy has her own place. In the past I have worked as a labourer and in factories. I used to go to job agencies and they would send you to factories. I used to work just to get money. I have a few interests. I like computers, fishing and watching football. I used to do a lot of fishing when I was younger on the Leeds to Liverpool canal. I would go with my brother Adam. In the future I would like to join the Emmaus Project to develop some work skills. I need to ease myself back into society again. Eventually, I hope to have my own house and a good job. I would like to settle down. |
