"I look back now and don't recognise myself": Ex-drug user who turned her life around encourages addicts to seek support

Living on the streets was the only life that 38 year-old Donna knew, coping with years of taking drugs and drinking until she 'blocked out the pain' of her dads' tragic death.

She spent her teenage years mixing with the wrong crowd and selling herself - moving in and out of prison just to survive.

Not only did her reliance on drugs and alcohol put strain on her relationships with her family and friends, it also led to her losing her much-loved job as a carer at Alston View care home in Longridge.

Today, she stands a world away from her old self and puts her success down to the hard work of organisations that held her hand through some of the darkest years of her life - times that she claims are 'unrecognisable' to her now.

She says: "I got hooked on drugs when I was 18 because I mixed with the wrong crowd. I had to start working on the streets to make money and was homeless.

"I never thought there would be an end to what I was going through and I look back now and don't even recognise myself. I used to drink and take drugs like methadone. It had a huge impact on my relationships with my family and friends."

In October 2012, Donna found herself at rock bottom and decided to kick her drug use for good, staying clean for four months and on the long awaited road to recovery.

Months of living drug-free was a new way of life for Donna, who relapsed after the tragic death of her dad Alan in the following February.

Involved in a serious motorway incident that killed him instantly, it sent Donna back into a vicious downward spiral that she is still recovering from today.

"In my adult life, my dad had never seen me clean apart from in the few months before he died. I was never at home and was knocking about the streets and living all over Preston," says Donna, from Ashton.

"It knocked me massively when he died because he went out to work and never came home. Every bone in his body was broken and he was killed instantly. I am still dealing with it now but with a clean and sober mind, I had to get off the drugs, not just for me - but for my dad too.

"People need to know that there is help out there for them even when they feel like there is nowhere to turn. In the next few months, with the support of Phoenix Futures, I will be moving in to my first home which I am so excited for. Anyone else who finds themselves in the same situation I was in needs to know there is help out there. There are webcam meetings for addicts to stay connected with people and support services.

"I had the support of a police officer and domestic violence worker working alongside me that fought for me to get to rehab. They believed in me and made me believe in myself.

"I love life now. When I look back, my past doesn't feel real. I have beautiful friends and family and see life through different eyes."

Donna is still repairing her broken relationships with brothers Ian and Jason and is 'closer than ever' with mum Jacky following her recovery.

And she is now encouraging people in Preston, particularly those hit by the local lockdown restrictions, to seek help if they find themselves following a similar path to herself as she now celebrates two years of living clean.

For people battling with drug or alcohol addiction, NHS care provides the same support to anyone else living with a health condition. In Preston, there were 39 drug poisoning related deaths between 2016 and 2018 according to the Office for National Statistics. This is compared to 27 in 2013-15.

And according to Lancashire County Council, deaths related to alcohol use are ‘significantly’ higher in Lancashire than the UK average, with 470 between 2016-18.

A spokesperson for Inspire, a support service for drink and drug users in Preston and the North West, said: "We provide substance misuse prevention, treatment and recovery services. Our adult services are recognised locally under the brand name of Inspire and we have operated in Lancashire now for quite some time. We work with individuals and their families, empowering them to achieve their goals, creating opportunities for positive change and reducing the impact that their substance misuse has on others.

"Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.

"We are the UK’s leading substance misuse charity and we strive to ensure we are constantly learning and evolving from our service users’ experience, to make sure we are doing everything we can to deliver the best service possible. That is how we will make our vision - to change society for the better - a reality.

"All too often, people turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism for other things going on in their life. Within our Lancashire Services, we understand the importance of a whole-person approach, physical health, mental well-being, lifestyle and relationships. These all play a part in helping people reach their goals, and we know that there are a wealth of skills and knowledge within our local communities that together can make a real difference in people’s lives.

"We work closely with other local organisations to ensure people get the right support at the right time. We believe that by working together we can deliver real value and positive change in our local communities."

Donna was helped on her road to recovery by other services, including the Chapman Barker unit in Manchester, the Littledale Hall Therapeutic Community in Lancaster and Phoenix Futures, the organisation that provided her with a home after rehab.

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: "Tackling substance and alcohol misuse is a crucial part of improving the health and well-being of our county.

"We commission services to provide education, treat people to help them to beat their addictions and to support them in their rehabilitation and recovery.

"There are specialised services for young people and adults. If you or someone you know needs support from these services please get in touch."

For those struggling with drug use, the FRANK website points out local drug treatment services or can be contacted on their drug helpline at 0300 123 6600.