Learning the hard way how to beat drugs

Published on Tuesday 29 July 2008 09:05

GRADUATION ceremonies are always moving moments, marking the end of one life and the start of another.

But for scores of students who have just stood up in front of a packed hall to receive their recognition in the Capital the moment could hardly have been more poignant.

For each of them had overcome much higher odds than the average university graduate, having at one point being been written off by others and giving up on themselves.

Most of those taking part in the graduation ceremony at Edinburgh University's Moray House yesterday had fallen into addiction to drink or drugs.

Each had to find it within themselves to make a change – to decide that they were going to rebuild their lives from scratch.

And they did that by beating their addictions and returning to education, going back to the classroom to gain professional qualifications that would allow them to enter the world of work.

Yesterday's graduation ceremony marked their achievements in gaining certificates from the Scottish Qualifications Authority in skills ranging from IT to creative writing.

All the awards were the result of months of hard work, made possible through transition and passport projects, giving people with a former addiction the opportunity to move on.

David McCartney, who leads one of those projects, LEAP (Lothian and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme), said: "Going through this programme takes motivation, dedication and a great deal of hard work.

"These people's success is down to them and I give them all my heartfelt congratulations.

"I look forward to seeing them continue to improve the quality of their lives as they move on to the next stage in their recovery journey."

Here, three of those taking part – Naomi Frater, Adam Howden and Clare Curran – tell how they turned around their lives.

Clare Curran

TODAY 33-year-old Clare looks the picture of health.

It's a far cry though from her situation only a few years ago when she was completely hooked on heroin and unable even to look after her three children.

Her life started on a long and bitter downward spiral after she started taking hard drugs about ten years ago.

Experimenting with various substances left her dependent on a whole cocktail of drugs, including diazepam.

At her lowest point, she found herself unable to look after her children, who moved out of her home.

"I took heroin for about eight years and my children moved out. I don't even want to think about what my life could have been like if I hadn't got help.

"Goodness only knows what may have happened."

Today, she finds it hard to even think about the mess her life had become. "I can never look back or think of the what-ifs. My life is ahead of me now, with my children."

The turning point came after she decided to seek help and turn her life around.

She signed up for a course to rid herself of drugs, which included counselling, and which led to her being referred for training for work.

Now she is looking forward to life once more and aiming one day to become an art therapist. She intends to go back to college after the summer.

The most significant sign of her new life though is the busy hub of activity that is now her home.

Only this month her children moved back in with her and Clare couldn't be happier.

She has been clean from any drug-taking for six months and has thrown herself into making a future for her family.

This week, after months of studying, she received certificates from the SQA in subjects as wide ranging as creative writing, IT and communications.

Clare smiles broadly as she speaks of her academic achievements and the pride her children have for her. She is determined to make only positive opportunities arise over the coming years, delighted at the prospect of a job and happiness.

"I hadn't been in the classroom for 18 years and really wasn't very sure what it would be like going back. A bit of me thought I was too old," she says. "Succeeding has given me a lot of confidence and I was always encouraged not to give up. I feel now I am a jack of all trades and hopefully one day I will be a master of one."

Adam Howden

THE turning point in 45-year-old Adam's life came one night as he lay in a hospital bed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Years of drug-taking since his youth had again its toll on his body and he found himself seriously ill.

It was one of the nurses caring for him who took the time to talk and suggested he should go back to college.

Adam had studied as a youth when he was younger but his descent into drink and drug addiction left him unable to stick at it continue. He tried repeatedly over the years to sign up for drug rehabilitation programmes, he says, but more than once found his way blocked by a lack of funding.

"I knew it was my one last chance this time," says Adam, recalling his decision to give his life without drugs another go.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do it though as I was seriously worried that I may actually have damaged my brain so much that I wouldn't be able to retain anything. Thankfully that wasn't the case."

Readily admitting his life was a "real mess", Adam says: "I had serious drink and drug issues for decades.

"It got so bad that I was lying in the Royal Infirmary and I knew something had to change."

Compared to his past life, He now has the world at his fingertips, armed with a clean bill of health and a determination to succeed.

The 45-year-old is celebrating notching up a series of SQAs this week – including his forklift truck licence – and is now giving serious thought to entering the social care profession. "I just think that my life experiences may mean I can help others in similar situations," he says.

"Doing this (course] actually gave me something to get up for in the morning and I feel great about it. If I can do this, I firmly believe anyone can."

Naomi Frater

NAOMI had given up any hope of ever living a normal life.

Battling severe problems with alcohol, lacking in confidence and agoraphobic, she had resigned herself to being at a constant "loose end".

"I never thought I would be able to do anything again really," she says.

The 28-year-old stayed indoors whenever possible, mixing socially only when she had no other choice, and taking comfort from her other troubles in drink. Nothing else really mattered to her and she did not know how to move on.

Her life revolved around getting through each day with the help of alcohol.

Meeting the bright and bubbly 28-year-old blonde it's hard to imagine she once found dreaded setting foot outside her door without first having a drink and without being filled with fear. But there are still signs that she is uncomfortable with who she once was as she laughs awkwardly when talking of the old days.

"I just cannot believe I was like that now. I don't really like talking about it," she smiles says.

Like with so many others, life finally started to change for Naomi after she took the decision to get help.

Next month she will take up a full-time job as a fitness instructor after undergoing professional training and putting her addiction behind her.

On her birthday card this year, her mum wrote "we're so proud of you".

Naomi grins widely as she tells of the greeting, speaks openly and confidently of her family's delight in her turning her life around.

"I cannot believe I'm going to have a proper job. I just never thought I would be able to do it."