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Rehab, marriage and then employment 

I was 20 years on drugs – a heroin and crack addict. I began rehab in prison with Phoenix House [a national treatment agency] and continued with them at Portland House in Newark. As an addict you don’t think you’ve got a choice but the staff at Portland are very persistent – and really supportive.

Portland was an amazing experience. They adapt the programme to fit your needs; everyone is treated individually and when you complete there’s a certificate and lots of people saying ‘well done’.

Framework show you how to live – bills, budgeting, cooking. As an addict the last thing on your mind is food!

Then the aftercare is unreal: I still get calls asking how I’m doing. The answer is pretty well: I got married in February while I was still in Portland’s rehab programme. I’ve known Robert for years and he kept writing to me in prison.

I’m really pleased to have been clean for three years and I can’t believe I’m now working with the police – my whole view of them has changed: I started full time employment with the Sherwood Project in June 2006 as a support worker to offending drug users. I’m told there were 300 applicants for five jobs – and I got one of them!

Dyanne