EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 37

April 2004

  My first drug was glue

Ian Tells His story
 
 
I first started using drugs between the age of 14-15. The first drug was glue, I started sniffing glue, then I moved on to Butane gas. After that I started using magic mushrooms, L.S.D. and amphetamines. My mum passed away when I was eighteen and after that I started drinking. I was okay financially at that time because my mum had left me some money. I spent most of it on drink and socializing, but then I kept getting arrested, mostly through drink. I was smashing windows, and at that time abusing my girlfriend physically and mentally. I was drinking about 12 cans of strong beer daily, to hide the feelings about losing my mum.

I stopped drinking, but took up with cannabis then heroin. I told myself that I wouldn’t get into the extremes that I had seen other heroin addicts get into and do the things I saw them doing. But I did and it was worse.

I started shoplifting then into frauds and stealing, from my friends and my family. No one could trust me any more after that. I have used and manipulated people to the extreme. I was introduced to T.H.O.M.A.S. This is an organization that gives out meals everyday between 1 and 2pm to those who live on the margins of a society.

I have been in and out of jail most of my life through my addictions. I told myself when I was in jail that I would never do those things again, but I would be alright for a week then I would start smoking cannabis again and a couple of drinks. But basically I got fed up of this and I just wanted heroin again. Before I knew it I was robbing again, robbing from my family and friends and also my girlfriend.

I needed help but I was too proud to ask for it. But a lady who works for the T.H.O.M.A.S. organisation came along and asked me if I wanted to go into rehab.

At this time I had a court appearance waiting so there was nothing they could do until that was settled, then I would be able to go into the rehab. Unfortunately between the court case and then I got arrested for being in breach of a drug testing order and more shoplifting offences. I left jail to come into the rehab. I wanted to see my daughter when I came out of prison but because of my addiction and the trouble that occurred with her mother when I was in prison, I was angry and I got some Vodka and got totally blethered. I was back in prison nine hours later. They kept my place open at T.H.O.M.A.S. and I spent fourteen weeks there, and it’s the best fourteen weeks that I’ve had for a long time. The easy part is getting off drugs. The hardest part is staying of them. I believe that T.H.O.M.A.S. has helped me to combat this just a day at a time and I’m very grateful for that. Also they’ve offered me a place with the Drama Workshop that helps to educate young people in the dangers of drugs and the way the progression works from one drug to another. It will also help those who have brothers or sisters who have a habit to encourage them to seek help. It warns them of how it can ruin your life. I’m also attending college and I never thought that that would happen. It’s all down to the people at T.H.O.M.A.S., the staff the boys on the programme, everyone.

I’ve been in prison eight times, but there’s no help with addiction in prison only the link worker just being clean on a daily basis. You get the detox, but it doesn’t work like that you need proper treatment centres to rehabilitate your mind.

You can be given scripts for methadone and other treatments, but this is just to keep the crime figures down. I was on methadone but it doesn’t work I was still using heroin on top of that and going out shoplifting to fund my habit. You need to do a rattle and not just to prolong it.

Finally after the Drama Workshop ends I would like to go into mentoring and use my bad experiences to help others not to go down that road.
 

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