Dad turned his life around after years of drug use
AMAN who would go without sleep “for a week at a time” due to his drug use has opened up about completely turning his life around, and how he’s now trying to help other people.
Gareth Jones, 31, from Aberdare, said he was always a “happy child”, and had a fantastic upbringing. He said his mother worked hard as a single parent, and he was particularly close to his grandparents.
He described his grandfather as “the light of his life”, and everything he did was to make him proud.
He said: “Growing up was difficult for me not knowing who my father was. It felt like I always had this void, but he stepped up and was always the true father figure in my life.
“I did have a step-father in my life and, even though this time of my childhood wasn’t perfect, he was the father to my siblings. Unfortunately, he took his own life when I was very young due to circumstances that where out of his control.
“When this happened I was very young, and I had to step up and be the father figure to my brothers and sister. I don’t remember having time to grieve myself or relate to the things that unfolded, but what I do remember is trying to hide the truth from them for as long as I could protect them.
“This impacted my mental health because I kept so many things bottled up inside me. The bucket was getting to the point of overflowing.
“I went to see a therapist who basically said to me and my mother ‘he’s fine – there’s nothing wrong with him’. If only that person had realised how drastically upset I was on the inside.”
A few years later Gareth’s grandfather, who suffered from bronchitis, became very poorly and was in and out of hospital most nights.
Shortly afterwards, Gareth’s use of drugs spiralled out of control as he tried to mask the anguish following his grandfather’s death.
“I started smoking marijuana around the age of 15,” Gareth said. “I first it started off as a recreational habit, which slowly turned into a dependant.
“My friends where good people, and together we share some amazing memories growing up, but when I was 17 I started exploring and getting involved with the wrong sort of people.
“I started taking amphetamine and cocaine on a daily basis – sometimes not sleeping for a week at a time. This habit was expensive.
“I used to get caught up in a lot of fights. I used to steal off my friends and family – even resorting to taking out loans I knew I could never pay back. When I think back, and think of a reason why I started drugs, I
guess it comes down to keeping so much bottled up inside me for so long and when my grandfather died, I had enough and let it all pour out in the wrong ways.”
After an incident which saw him hit out at his mum because he was hallucinating and another, which saw him arrested after a fight, Gareth says he couldn’t continue as he was.
His life began to turn around when he met a woman who he says was the one to “pull him back down to earth”. He also set his sights on joining the armed forces.
Gareth said: “The wake-up call I had was one day I had everything – I finally had my life coming together, the love of my life and possible career in the forces then in an instant that could have been ripped away. Ever since that day all my actions are carefully thought out, because I can never experience that sick feeling again.”
He said his path “fully changed” on the day his first daughter was born. Gareth, who now has three daughters, added: “A part of me still
thinks I didn’t deserve the chances I was given, but I make up for them every day. She was my light, my anchor back to reality and the reason I’m still here.”
He joined the Army Air Corps in 2015 and is a communications specialist and physical training instructor.
During lockdown, Gareth discovered running and has since completed a 10k race, a 32-mile race and a 200-mile self-sufficient run. He also started a page called ‘The Mental Health Wanderer’ to share his story and experiences with the hope he can help others who are struggling.
Gareth added: “All they must do is believe in themselves. I’ve since completed a mental health first aid course so I can be better prepared to notice signs of mental health struggles. My goal is to share and promote mental health awareness as much as I can. I might not be able to change the world, but I hope I can reach at least one.”
Gareth’s next big challenge will take place on August 22 when he will take on a 300-mile run from north to south Wales, covering the three Welsh Peaks. He hopes to complete it in a new record time of six days.
While taking on the challenge, he’s raising funds for three-year-old Harri Stickler, from Aberdare, who has lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Gareth said: “I will try my hardest and do anything possible to help, because no child should suffer. If it was my own, I’d like to think someone would do the same.”
■ To make a donation, visit gofundme.com/f/300-mile-run-4harri