Recovery Stories - Paul

It started early in my life.

I started taking drugs when I was put in a home. I was a child. 12 years of age and I thought taking pills was fun and would help me fit in with others.

When I came out of the home, I started injecting heroin. Things went downhill from there.

To feed my habit, I began robbing & stealing. That moved on to selling drugs, which led to me serving time in jail. By that point, I had hit rock bottom. I despised myself. I hated life. But I thought it was everyone else’s fault.

Even though I was going through struggles in my life, I always had a good work ethic. I was brought up working on a farm, and spent time working doing landscaping and labouring, and always enjoyed hard work.

On Hogmanay 2000, I fell out with my partner. At 26 years old, I found myself walking the streets while everyone else was celebrating the New Year. I had lost everything. And yet I wanted to change.

For the next 19 years, I tried different rehabs. None of them worked. Then, when I was 47, a staff member gave me an application form for RGA. They said the programme was different and I should give it a bash.

I’m now halfway through my three years residency. I really enjoy the work and the camaraderie. It’s given me a purpose and a sense of worth.  I’m happy and healthy and feel good about myself; and this is definitely the most fulfilling and content chapter of my life thus far.  RGA has been totally transformative for me and I will continue to work hard to be the best version of myself. I will be forever grateful to RGA for all I have learned so far and the amazing possibilities that the future holds.