EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 45

September 2006


Since the age of fifteen my life has taken a path of self-destruction. I’ve been an alcoholic for thirteen years thinking there was no problem. I held jobs down wherever I worked I always tried to do the best I could, aiming for the top. All my relationships were false due to my alcoholism. I lived most of my life trying to please my parents; if they were happy, then I was happy. When they died I was alone and lost and the alcohol wasn’t doing what I wanted. I wasn’t interested anymore.

I was introduced to heroin and this gave me all the numbness I wanted but my life went downhill, lying, thieving, stealing just to get away from the reality of life. I ended up in the prison system.

It was there that I heard about T.H.O.M.A.S. I was let out of prison on license,went back to Blackpool but nowhere to live and back on drugs. It wasn’t what I wanted. I kept asking for help but came to the conclusion the only place I would get it was in prison. So after one night sleeping in a public toilet I’d had enough. I went back to prison.

As soon as I arrived, Jackie at CDT in Preston asked me if I wanted to go into rehab. I give her credit for all the work she put in to get me here at T.H.O.M.A.S.

I was apprehensive when I got here but I felt welcomed. I was given a week to settle and get to know about things. I was surprised that we lived in separate houses and given responsibilities. At first starting the 12 Steps I was confused, but found the staff helpful and they gave me advice and understanding about what I needed to stay clean.

I’ve found out a lot about my disease and myself. It wasn’t all good, there were hard times and the 12 Steps took me to places that I’d been hiding from. The programme has introduced me to NA which with the 12 Steps is important to my recovery.

At this moment I am near the Stage 2 programme and I am looking forward to a life of total abstinence

I have had a hard journey; T.H.O.M.A.S. has given me the tools and a jump start on to the next stage of my journey also it has given me strength and belief in others that I can build my life into something. I appreciate what T.H.O.M.A.S. has given me so much and I can never thank it enough. I will do my best to give anything back that I can as I can see this programme is going to be the future for many addicts/ I would recommend it to any addict who genuinely wants help. Thanks a lot T.H.O.M.A.S.


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