WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
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helps addicts take control of their lives and addictions
and drugs that as part of the course. “Drugs stopped working for me a long time ago but it just became a habit. “My life was abysmal, it was just horrible. Today my life is so far removed from that and I can’t believe it. From the age of 15 I haven’t been able to take a drug without stopping. The police stopped me; I didn’t stop me.” However, the road to recovery was not without its setbacks, as on the way Barry’s life was turned upside down once more. He started working in a children’s home voluntarily and almost a year later took a paid position. “I have never found fulfilment like I had there. It was closure for me for the time I spent in care.” But his perfect life was shattered when a false allegation of child abuse was made against him. “All of a sudden my integrity was lost. It ruined me. I lost my job and there was a social services investigation and gossip and rumours spread about me. “I ended up at three in the morning in a bush with a hammer waiting for the person who was spreading rumours about me. “I had a moment of clarity and thought ‘what the **** are
you doing?’ I was frightened and it was paralysing. I thought ‘you have come all this way to throw it away in a moment of madness’. “Instead I found solace in recovery and I forgot I wanted to use. That was the most important thing. I didn’t use. “I don’t care if anyone judges me for it, as no-one can judge me harder than I judge myself.” Since being clean and sober, Barry has given up all mind-altering substances, including alcohol and cannabis. He discovered it was impossible to only give up Class A drugs because if he had a drink it just tempted him into wanting a stronger substance. It has been a long and hard struggle, but worth it in the end. “CA is my life. Without it I would be in Belmarsh Prison,” he said. “But solutions don’t come in the mail, you have to go and get them.” ■ Tomorrow addicts tell their stories about addiction and recovery
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IN NOVEMBER last year, the Northampton meeting of Cocaine Anonymous (CA) consisted of two people in a room sharing their struggles. Today there are six committed members and more than a dozen people come to the meetings each week. They are from all walks of life from rich businessmen to working class criminals but they all have one thing in common: an addiction to mind-altering substances. It is the only CA group in the county, with addicts previously having to travel to Luton or Milton Keynes to find support. But such has been its success and rapid evolution that there are now talks of expanding the Northamptonshire CA to hold meetings in another county town as well. One of the members, Blake*, who said crack cocaine was his drug of choice, moved back to Northampton in November and joined the CA group. He discovered it had been running for a year but not many people knew of its existence.
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“I thought there are people out there who are not aware of the fellowship,” he said. “It is different in London as it has been going since 1992 but it is not that well established in other places. I started sending letters to courts, doctors, the police station. I have used in this town, so it has got a place within me. I have moved back here 10 years later when I am clean and I am enthused about trying to help other people.” Founder member Brian* started the Northampton group after becoming frustrated with travelling to meetings in Luton. He would not be drawn on the provision of NHS drug treatment services in the county, but said: “We are not in competition with anyone. We are just a load of addicts trying to stay clean.” The Northampton CA meets every Thursday and if it falls on a Christmas day they put on a dinner. To find out more contact 07813 790005.
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