Borough Life Spring 2006: The Drugs Don’t Work
Jason’s experience gives help to suffering addicts
Students on the Bridging The Gap (BTG) programme learn all there is to know about drugs: classifications, assessments, use and effects and so on.
But one graduate in particular isn’t afraid to admit he’s got a wealth of first hand experience.
Jason Philip Wood from Swinley is a former addict who has turned his life around and wants to help others do the same. “If I can do it, anybody can”, he insists.
The 36 year old father of four first encountered drugs at the age of 12 – heroin and crack cocaine dominated the next 20 years of his life. “My whole lifestyle was shaped around drugs, by drugs” Jason admits.
“I was a loner. Pain and anguish, agony and depression were all I knew. You never forget the pain.
“But someday you have to get off it – or die. Life is so much better now, so different.
“Beating heroin was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’ve cracked it. My wife, Abigail, helped me most at a time when agencies either didn’t or couldn’t. I would have been dead by now.
“I know people who need help, people going through what I went through.
“They can’t see anyway out, either because they can’t face the rattle in the first place or they’re worried about what the future has in store. So they just carry on. I’ve had a Jekyll and Hyde life. Now I’m clean and straight, and I want to show others that it really can be done.”
The UK’s drugs and alcohol problems are well documented, and the social and economic costs are colossal.
Estimates of the burden on the economy and the health services average several billion pounds – a year. The burden on individuals, families and communities cannot even be quantified. Drug and alcohol use within the family is having a negative impact on more than three million people.
The government says tackling drugs is one of its highest priorities and points to record investment, new powers and an expanded workforce to beat the scourge. Its national drug strategy concentrates on the most dangerous drugs, the most damaged communities and addicts with the most chaotic, harmful lifestyles.
Record levels of drugs are now being seized, organised crime rings and dealers are being disrupted, and more offenders than ever are being brought before the courts.
Many observers feel that more people need to be on treatment programmes – and that’s where Wigan’s Drug Action & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) comes in.
The team brings together community safety partners from the council, health, police and many other local services to commission drugs treatment and education services. Nearly 1,000 local people are currently accessing drug treatment programmes.
“We are focusing on making real and sustainable change to the lives of drug users and the communities in which they live”, says drugs business manager Nicola Yates. “Record numbers of drug misusers are now entering and staying in treatment, and that’s good news for individuals, their families and society in general.”
Last year, the team asked Manchester-based charity Alcohol & Drug Services (ADS) to bring the award winning ‘Bridging the Gap’ (BTG) project to Wigan.
BTG is a programme of education and practical experience, training people to work with drug or alcohol dependants. 19 students graduated last September in Tameside and, this month, a similar number of local people will ‘graduate’ after six months on the scheme.
Project co-ordinator Linda Corrigan says: “What we are doing changes lives. Seventeen of the Tameside graduates have gone on to either paid employment, further study or voluntary work in the field and we expect similar results here in Wigan.”
One of Wigan’s graduates will be Julie Gallagher from Abram. She says: “I was a hairdresser for 30 years, so I’m used to talking and listening. When I saw BTG advertised I just had to give it a go. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the course and I’ve learned so much from so many people involved in community safety in the borough. I can’t thank them enough.
“I’ve also got my own personal reasons for wanting to be a full-time counsellor. I’m really concerned about where some of our young people are heading these days, with our binge drinking culture. It’s leading to a lot of problems. It’s that age group I want to work with and hopefully I’ll find a role somewhere and be able to help.”
- Help is available locally for people wanting to get off drugs. For free and confidential advice ring Street Based Services on 0800 389 4463.
“We are focusing on making real and sustainable change to the lives of drug users and the communities in which they live”
Drugs Business Manager Nicola Yates