EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 28

January 2002

DISAFFECTED YOUTH
 

Tom has come to our project directly from prison.

I just got released from prison on Friday and now I’m at THOMAS.

I first started using drugs when I was twelve. I began with cannabis friends. I got in the wrong group. When I was fourteen I got introduced to heroin. I started going out thieving and burgling – anything I could to feed my habit. My habit got worse and worse. I began to thieve off my mum and dad.

My mum and dad sent me abroad to try and get me off it. I went to Spain for two weeks with two of my other friends who were on drugs. We all got off it and we were doing really well but we got back into the same crowd. I started using again.

My mum and dad tried to get me off it again. For my seventeenth birthday they bought me a car, paid for my driving lessons and my insurance. I stayed off it again for a bit.

When I was nineteen I met my girlfriend Lisa. She was on heroin. I didn’t know at the time. It was only after three months together that we found out each other was on it. We’ve been together for four years now. We have two children who are in voluntary care at the moment and one that’s just been born – two weeks old. Lisa’s going into a rehab with the baby to sort herself out. If we both do well we’ll get the other two children back from the foster parents.

I’m hoping that everything will be alright. It takes time. I’ve just got back in touch with my dad after two years. We are back on speaking terms and getting on well. I don’t get on with my mum because she’s seeing Lisa’s step-dad and he’s a heroin user. She was always anti-drugs with me but now she’s paying for heroin for him.

In the future all I hope is that I stay off drugs and keep clean, get my children back, get my own house and a good job. I want to be able to give my children a good life and keep them away from drugs.




 
 

Lee visits our Drop-in-Centre

My name is Lee and I’m homeless. It’s my own fault I’m homeless because it’s through drink and going to prison.

I first went to prison when I was fifteen. I was on remand. I’ve never done a sentence yet but I’ve been remanded eight times. I’ve only just got out after five months of being on remanded. My mum took me in for a bit but she couldn’t afford me so she kicked me out.

I got expelled from my first primary school when I was eight years old for fighting. I hit one of the teachers. I also got expelled from a school in Little Barrow. I then went on to a boarding school in the Lake District and then one at Grange Over Sands. I went over to Ireland to see my dad but none of the schools over there would take me.


I came back over here when I was fourteen and went working on the building sites. No school would take me because I had severe dyslexia and behaviour problems.

I enjoyed boarding school because you always had something to do like rock climbing. At first I was homesick but after a bit I got used to it and enjoyed it there. I got took out because my family were moving to Ireland. My dad used to live in a caravan and travel all over the place but I’ve not. He lives in a house now. He still travels working over in Ireland and Germany but he doesn’t take a caravan with him.

Since I’ve come out of prison I’ve got my giro sorted out but I just can’t find anywhere to live. Last time I cam out I couldn’t get my giro sorted and I was on my arse for four months with no money. I reckon I will be in prison before Christmas. That’s the best thing.

After you’ve been in prison for a few weeks its alright. You can get your fags sorted out and go to the gym everyday. You get used to being banged up after a while. When you get out sometimes you wish you were back in. Jail’s good for your health





 

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