“I always thought my family life was pretty normal, but around the age of 10, things started to change. My dad got kicked out of home, and that made my family relationships very volatile.
“At 15, my grandad died, and that shook my world. I started getting into harder drugs. The relationship with my mum just broke down completely. My mum and sister moved up north, and I had nowhere to go.
“At 18, I realised I had a problem; my addiction… it stopped being fun. I got a job, but my life was just getting worse and worse. One day, I didn’t make it to work. My boss rang me up, and I was in a state. I had a big box of prescription pills that weren’t mine that I was just going to take and just end it. I just broke down over the phone, and my boss took me to my first 12-step fellowship meeting.
“I started coming to the Clock Tower Sanctuary, and they were really supportive of me. I eventually got six months clean, and I honestly don’t think that would’ve happened without CTS. It was a safe place for me to come, where I could make friends, have a meal and wash my clothes, and I could kind of live a normal life.
“In 2022, I relapsed, and I was too ashamed to come to the Clock Tower Sanctuary. But when I did come back, still using at the time, no one judged me. No one looked down on me. No one treated me differently. No matter how people are doing, they’re always worth being treated with love. And that’s all that CTS has ever done – they treated me with love, and countless other people.
“I’m going to college soon to do a course in adult social care. One day, I’d love to give back to the community for the help and love that I’ve received.”
Kurt, 23 (they/them)
