BACKGROUND INFORMATION :: Personal stories

This section contains links to personal accounts from drug and alcohol users and people affected by someone else's drug and alcohol use - which have been collated by Wired (the organisation behind Daily Dose).

Drug and alcohol user accounts

David Wright

David has a history of problematic drug use, spanning over twenty years. He battled heroin addiction and alcoholism for many years until he started a successful methadone maintenance programme in 2001. [His story has been serialised in Drink & Drugs News].

Dean Byfield

In the mid-nineties, Dean Byfield began following the crowd on his estate, drinking and taking drugs. But the novelty wore off and left him feeling suicidal and desperately ill. Here he tells how he not only discovered the will to live and recover, but turned his experiences towards helping young people from falling into the same trap.

For more personal stories from people who have experienced drug and alcohol problems first hand, click here...

Family member accounts

Lisa
"That was when I realised it wasn't about me. It never was. It wasn't that I wasn't good enough, nice enough or caring enough. He was an addict. He left me for the drugs. For the addiction. He is in denial. He blames me, and always blamed me as it is far easier than facing up to the fact that he has a problem with drugs."

Monica
Monica's son (Callum) has been using heroin for several years. She has taken the journey with him in many respects and has stood by him throughout this time. This has been an extremely turbulent and emotional time for Monica as well as the rest of the family. She has undoubtedly experienced and learnt a lot, during this time and has chosen to share her experiences.

For more personal stories from people who have been affected by someone else's drug and alcohol problems, click here...

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