‘I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF MY ADDICTION TO MONKEY DUST’
Dad-of-7 living in a tent shares story for TV documentary on drug use in Britain
A Dad-of-seven stood in his tent in the middle of a Stoke-ontrent park and revealed how he ‘lost everything’ after becoming hooked on monkey dust.
He is one of many so-called ‘dust-heads’ who shared their harrowing stories in a new documentary about how the drug is ruining lives across the city.
The latest episode of BBC Three’s Drugs Map of Britain – filmed over a six-month period – focuses on the devastating impact of the monkey dust epidemic in Stoke-on-trent, which has become known as the UK capital for the powerful stimulant.
Monkey dust – said to make users resemble zombies – is cheaper to buy than alcohol, with some hits costing as little as £2. User Paul is living in a tent during the initial filming of the BBC documentary and is a recovering heroin addict.
He explains how he started on the drug seven years ago: “I was out trying to score speed but my speed dealer wasn’t in so somebody gave me a pipe of dust. That night I must have gone around to every dust dealer in Stoke-on-trent.”
He lost his house of 18 years and his family after becoming hooked on the drug, explaining: “I could see it going but there was nothing I could do about it. It can happen off just one pipe. You can have one pipe and that’s it you’re ****** for the rest of your life. It made me lose everything.”
Later in the episode Paul has a house and explains he’s cut down on his use of the drug. He says he wants to stop completely in order to see his children again, adding: “There’s no better reason than that is there?” However, a few months later the documentary states that he had been evicted from his house.
Monkey dust dealer and user Steve is homeless and living in woods off the A50, although his camp had recently been burned down when the BBC cameras were there.
“I’ve got no formal income,” he explains.
“It’s day to day living. Stoke is ****** because of dust. I hate this drug man. I hate it. It’s ruining my life.”
Drugs Map of Britain is available to watch on the iplayer now.