Memberjune c

Personal Story: June

Hi, my story will be much the same as many other mum of a substance misuser, the usual things we put up with because we don’t know any better.

Many years ago I discovered that all three of my sons were using heroin. We didn’t realise that it was going to be such a big problem or that it would continue for many years. For six years we struggled with their addiction, always looking for answers, then later support. Why couldn’t we find the answers we were looking for?

As it is with addiction things went from bad to worse – arrests, court appearances, prison visiting – the shame we felt. Our health began deteriorating because all our energies were being used in finding that magic answer that would make everything okay.

Nobody should have to do this without some support. Okay, what could I do about this? Could I start a support group? Well the answer to this was yes.

It wasn’t easy but, by this time, I had dug my heels in – Barnsley was going to have a support group!

In May 2000 we held our first meeting with very little knowledge except knowing what it was like living with a substance misuser. We soon realised the benefits of being able to talk to someone who was not going to judge or offer unwanted advice. We carried on in this way without any funding except donations we raised at our meetings.

In 2002 I was offered a place at Northern College on the community Health Animatuer Programme. At the age of 54 I was going back to school! I must have been mad but no – I studied for a year.

I went on to get a further six month extension. This gave me the grounding to take on more training that would enable me to move our group forward. Plater College was the place myself and a collegue went to do our drugs training.

Between us we raised awareness for our group. We held an official launch in 2003, found funding and some office space to work from. While at college I met some wonderful tutors and some even better friends. I had built a good network.

There are lots of things that happened in between, but we now have a good support system in Barnsley that offers support to anyone affected by some one else’s substance misuse. Funding, as always, has been a problem – but we have always managed to survive.

There is much much more to this story but that is a rough outline. Someday when I have time I would love to write a book about our experiences good and bad. The good people and some of the obstacles we have had to cross.

There have been good times and bad times resently I was nominated for a great north carer award and was succesful. I write this story to give hope to all the families out there. There is a way forward for us all if we choose to make a posative out of a negative. For some it may be just being able to understand addiction and to make a posative change in their daily lives for others there is nothing to stop you climbing that mountain and making a difference.

3 comments - First published on: 08/12/2009