Our members’ personal stories in their own words

"When I was controlling it, I wasn't enjoying it – and when I was enjoying it, I definitely wasn't controlling it."

"Today I know what's wrong with me, and I know where to come for my solution."

"I put the drink down, but the drink hadn't put me down."

I started using drugs later than most, but soon progressed from E to Ket to Coke. I started missing work, lost my job and ended up dealing.

I passed out on a park bench, all suited and booted, and woke up surrounded by street drinkers. Our circumstances may have been different, but under the nice suit or the shabby clothes, we were exactly the same.

I am an addict. It took me a long, long time to find out, and accept, that this was true for me. It was not in my game plan to end up being an addict, but it happened.

It was not in my game plan to end up being an addict, but it happened. I have used a wide variety of drugs since I was 15 years old, but it was Cocaine that brought me to my knees.

I have been an addict since the age of seven, when I craved food and love. Then drugs became a way of life. I started using soft drugs, then progressed to Crack Cocaine

My life was in a terrible state, and I thought the drugs were the cause of my problems. I have learned that the problem, and the solution, lay in my mind and in my spirit

From an early age I had all the hallmarks of the addict. I was always very uncomfortable but did not know how to change the way I felt