Ex drug user’s new life in city

THE addiction situation is a sad one and this city has it bad.

I was a drug addict for many years and now live a life free of addiction.

There is a stigma and people are ashamed of their addiction. I do believe there needs to be more done. I also believe that putting people on long term methadone programmes is counter productive.

I read a comment from a chap called John. He said any addict should be SENT to rehab until the drugs are out of their system. If it was as easy as that we would have won this battle a long time ago.

Most rehab costs thousands of pounds and a run of the mill drug addict certainly can’t afford that. They will just come out and use again – the core issue that takes them to “masking it over” never dealt with and the tolerance to the drug significantly lowered will lead to even more deaths.

I went to rehab many years ago. It changed my life. The thing is, it was my choice. I was ready. It was a Christian rehab and funded by caring members of society.

I became a drug and alcohol support worker then went on to found a charity in Swansea.

That city was like ours. Breaking records for negative reasons. One by one we plodded on. Changing lives as we went.

I have now moved back to Dundee and I am looking to carry on the work here. Most addicts never set out to become this way. I have never met an addict that wanted to be an addict.

Empathy, understanding and a bit of tough love can go a long way. I don’t think we will change the entire city, but one by one we can change people.

EX OUTCAST DAVE