It was the alcohol that destroyed me, but now I'm off it

I was always a heavy drinker but I didn't realise I had a problem until it forced me and my wife to split up. That then forced me about two years ago to become homeless. I went to London Road for a bit where I met Kath from The Academy. I was interested in doing some work there but I ended up getting a flat and moving on. The problem was I went off the rails a bit, because my life was a mess. I was taking a lot of drink and drugs. Just as they were about to evict me I met Tanya and Katherine from The Academy again. They came and asked me to come back and do a course.

Just before Christmas I passed my GCSE level 1 in English and my GCSE level 1 in Maths and it just gave me that little boost. When I got those certificates I decided to stop drinking there and then. From stopping drinking I went into the Priory (a drug and alcohol treatment agency). I was there for five weeks and that gave me the belief I needed to stay off the drink. I haven't taken drink or drugs now for six months.

I'm now going back to college to do my drug awareness level 2 and I'm doing voluntary work at ‘Double Impact' a service offering support for people who have experienced problematic drug or alcohol use. I love working there and hopefully there might be a job at the end of it. The best thing about volunteering is that I'm talking to people who are where I was. If I've managed to get out I know other people can too. I'm now attending a course at People's College to become a drugs councillor.

I'm now living at Ken Wilde house, an abstinence house for people who are coming off drink and drugs. I've been living there for about 3 months and it's good because we are all in the same boat so can bounce off each other. It was the alcohol that destroyed me, but now I'm off it hopefully I can have a normal life.

Jason