My personal story

Last summer, after meeting the Wired In team, I decided to do my personal story. I wanted others to learn about addiction from someone who had experienced it themselves. I’ve experienced the depths of addiction and I hoped that my story would put people off going down the same route as I did. For those trapped in the cycle of addiction, I hope that my story shows you that there is a way out.

To start with I didn’t really know what I was going to say. I sat down with Lucie and we decided that we would record us talking about my addiction and recovery and then write the story from the recording. I thought it would take about an hour. Six hours later we were still going strong!

When I saw my story on paper I couldn’t believe it. It was quite hard reading through everything although it did help me realise how far I had actually come since my drug using days. I felt proud of what I had achieved, and it felt good to have the opportunity to show others that addiction can be overcome.

I now live with my girlfriend and beautiful baby boy. Don’t get me wrong, life is tough but in comparison to my life in addiction it is 1000% better. I hope that you enjoy reading my story. If you would like to get in touch with me please leave a comment on my blog.

Thanks, Chris.

Interviewed on film

I'd already graduated from The Bridge Project and was volunteering with Wired In when I was told they were putting together a filmed documentary of heroin addiction. They wanted to talk to as many people as possible with heroin addiction problems and find out what their personal experiences were. So I jumped at the chance to get on film and talk about what had helped me to start overcoming my addiction.

When I first saw the film played back I was a little apprehensive but that soon changed until I felt a great sense of achievement. I hope you also enjoy the film. It has been split into small parts with a new one being released every Monday on the Wired In Recovery Channel on You Tube.

 This is the introduction to "Life as a heroin addict"

Introduction

I’m Chris, I’m 32 and originally from Caerphilly in South Wales. I started volunteering with Wired In in August 2007. I met Wired In when they were running discussion groups at the Salvation Army Bridge Project, a rehabilitation programme in Cardiff. With the help of the staff on the project, my brilliant partner, Sian, and my faith in God, my life is now completely different.

I had a long relationship with drugs, starting in my early teens as I experimented with cannabis and other ‘recreational’ drugs. My drug use was totally normal to me, and I didn’t really think anything of it. When I was 17, I visited my doctor because I was not sleeping and was feeling unhappy because of some events in my childhood. I was prescribed a permanent dose of benzodiazepines and have also been on anti-depressants for most of my life. I started using more of these pills, experimenting with how they made me feel. My drug use continued, leading me into a lifestyle controlled by addiction, crime, prison, homelessness – and unhappiness. At 30, I found myself addicted to heroin, cannabis, and benzodiazepines and heavily reliant on anti-depressants.

I started the Bridge programme at the Salvation Army and through a lot of hard work, determination and loving support from others I now feel like a different man! I have a wonderful partner Sian, and a newborn baby. I am on a methadone script but no longer take any illegal drugs. I know I’m not 100% ‘cured’ but I feel 1000% better than I did a year ago. Now I am looking forward to the future. I feel able to cope with things and enjoy spending time with my family, eating, getting to know people and volunteering. If my experiences can help just one person out there I will be happy.