I had to deal with my alcoholic addiction in order to help my mental health. 

That then helped me find a secure place to live because obviously a housing association is a lot more secure than a private landlord. 

And then that has then helped my mental health.

Which has helped me stay off the alcohol.

Which is helping me keep my tenancy. 

They all fit together like a jigsaw.

The reason I decided to sort out my addiction problems was a friend died of an accidental overdose. And I realised that I was heading the same direction. 

So that’s when I actually started engaging with the drug and alcohol services. And now because I’ve done it, some of my other friends are trying to sort themselves out as well because they’ve seen that it can be done. 

It’s like the blind leading the blind you know. I’m not quite sure what I’m doing, but other people are now trying to follow me if you get what I mean

I keep feeling my head swell. Every time somebody says, ‘oh you’re inspiring’ and all the rest of it. Because I don’t really feel that way.

You know, friends have applied for detox and rehab because they’ve seen me do well out of it. 

To me, it’s more that they are inspiring me – the fact that they now want to change their lives and get to that point as well, where they can help other people.