The book is dedicated to my four children, Natasha, Sam, Ben and Annalie, and grandchildren Ally and Evie. We may be far apart in distance, but you are always close to my heart.
Recovery Stories
On 9 April 2021, I published the eBook Our Recovery Stories: Journeys From Drug and Alcohol Addiction which could be purchased via Apple, Amazon or Kobo. These Recovery Stories were written back in 2012/13, either by the person or by myself after a number of interviews with each storyteller. The majority of Stories were updated in the second half of 2020, allowing readers to see how each storyteller's life has developed over the years.
I have now decided to include all the Stories and accompanying content on this website. You can read them online or print a pdf document. Please feel free to circulate the Stories. You might still prefer to read the Stories as presented in the eBook, or you may like to support our initiative by purchasing the book. Such support would be greatly appreciated, as would you telling friends and work colleagues about these Stories. Thank you.
'I always say that recovery breeds recovery. It is infectious.’ Dr. David McCartney
Acknowledgements
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
I am deeply indebted to the authors of these Recovery Stories: Adam Brookes, Anna, Beth Burgess, Brad Miah-Phillips, Iain Donald, Ian and Irene MacDonald, Kevin and Kerry, Kevan Martin, Michael Scott, Natalie, Paul, Sapphire, Simon Jenkins and Tim. Your courage, strength and resilience has inspired me. I have loved your Stories. Thank you for being the cornerstone of this project. (238 words)
Filed Under: Stories
Prologue
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Describes the author’s story, and his development of the grassroots initiative Wired In; the eBook Our Recovery Stories; the nature of substance use problems; changing behaviour and recovery, and the nature of addiction treatment. (4,024 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: addiction, addiction recovery, addiction treatment, Behavioural change, Wired In, Wired In To Recovery
Natalie’s Recovery Story: ‘I Didn’t Plan To Be An Addict’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Treatment staff and her peers help Natalie find a path to recovery from heroin addiction. A confronting situation years later, when she is a treatment practitioner, helps Natalie realise that she is still traumatised from her childhood experiences. A second recovery journey begins. (10,923 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: heroin addiction, hope, kindness, peer support, Recovery Story, relationships, son, treatment
Michael’s Recovery Story: ‘The Power of Empathy and Compassion’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Michael followed both his parents into a life of dependent drinking, but he will be 45 years sober on 10 April 2023. He describes his recovery journey, his work as a drug and alcohol counsellor, and his part-time role in ‘retirement’. (7,316 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: alcoholism, community, compassion, empathy, isolation, Recovery Story, relatioships, self-esteem
Kevin and Kerry’s Recovery Story: ‘A Family’s Journey’, Part 1
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Mother and son describe Kevin’s heroin and amphetamine addiction, and related activities, and how they impacted on Kevin and the family and as a whole. (7,376 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: depression, heroin addiction, methadone, mother, Recovery Story, son, suicide attempt, treatment
Kevin and Kerry’s Recovery Story: ‘A Family’s Journey’, Part 2
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Kevin’s hospitalisation with septicaemia acts as a turning point and a process of recovery begins for the family as a whole. (6,933 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: christian, family support, heroin addiction, Inroads, mother, prejudice, Recovery Story, residential rehab, septicaemia, son, Wired In
Kevan’s Recovery Story: ‘He’s a Loser and Will Never Be Any Good’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
After 25 years of problem drinking and eight years in and out of psychiatric hospitals, Kevan developed NERAF (Northern Engagement into Recovery from Addiction), which eventually had nearly 100 staff and volunteers. (11,945 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: alcoholism, antabuse, family, Kevan Martin, mentoring, neraf, peer support, psychiatric hospital, Recovery Story
Adam’s Recovery Story: ‘A Moment of Clarity’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
After spending years in Australia locked into an addiction to amphetamine, cannabis and alcohol, Adam’s recovery leads him to the UK where he marries. His life spirals out of control after traumatic experiences, before he continues on his recovery journey and moves back to the other side of the world. (11,648 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: belonging, family, forgiveness, hope, kindness, moment of clarity, Recovery Story, relapse, residential rehab, trauma
Tim’s Story: ‘Doctor in Recovery’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
As Tim found out, having a medical degree offers no protection against addiction, nor from the hard work that is required to change oneself as a key part of the recovery journey. (7,135 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: community, empowerment, giving back, mutual aid, peer support, Recovery Story, residential rehab, responsibility
Ian and Irene’s Story, ‘Living Through Our Son’s Addiction and Death: Our Journey to Recovery’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
After losing their son Robin to a heroin overdose, Ian and Irene set up CPSG (Carer and Parent Support Gloucestershire) to help family members avoid some of the problems they experienced. (5,469 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: acceptance, bereavement, family members, family support group, heroin overdose, Recovery Story, son
Iain’s Recovery Story: ‘This is Me’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
A treatment agency helped Iain detox from the methadone that was prescribed for his heroin addiction. College, employment, recreational activities and romance facilitated Iain’s recovery. (9,237 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: community, education, heroin addiction, meaningful activities, methadone, RAFT, Recovery Story, treatment
Sapphire’s Recovery Story: ‘It Should All Be About the Person’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Things went well when Sapphire was intimately involved in decisions about her methadone-based treatment, but poorly when professionals took sole control. (7,631 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: benzo withdrawal, crack, methadone, pain control, person-centered, practitioners, Recovery Story, treatment
Brad’s Recovery Story: ‘A Life Beyond My Wildest Dreams’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Following a life of crime, fighting and drinking, Brad started his recovery journey after being told that alcohol wasn’t his problem—it was him! He later had an experience that he could only describe as a spiritual awakening. (14,961 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: AA, alcoholism, community, fear, peace, Recovery Story, spiritual, The Basement project
Anna’s Recovery Story: ‘Should I or Shouldn’t I?’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Through his heroin addiction and recovery, Anna’s brother has taught her so much about life, including the most valuable lesson she could ever learn—you can get through anything. (4,273 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: brother, co-dependen, denial, families anonymous, family, heroin addiction, inspirational, Recovery Story
Beth’s Recovery Story: ‘Becoming Beth’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
A fullly-fledged dependent drinker by age nineteen, Beth has gone on to become a recovery coach and writer in order to help other people escape from addiction. (9,230 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: alcohol, choices, connections, recovery coach, Recovery Story, spritual, stigma, thinking processes
Paul’s Recovery Story: ‘Doctor Knows Best’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
After years of taking opiates whilst working as a medical doctor, Paul has become a new person through residential treatment, the 12-step programme, and a good deal of work on himself. (11,760 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: 12-step, awakening, doctor, emotions, honesty, Recovery Story, residential rehab, spiritual
Simon’s Recovery Story: ‘Gratitude For the Life I Thought Was Over…’
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Simon’s first Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting was pivotal, not just in helping him turn his life around, but also in setting him up to make future significant contributions to NA both in the UK and abroad. (8,853 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: connections, greatitude, heroin addiction, love, NA, peer support, Recovery Story, resonsibility
Factors That Facilitate Addiction Recovery
January 31, 2023 by David Clark
Describes the nature of addiction recovery and the factors that facilitate the process, using the Stories and quotes from our Storytellers and research conducted by members of the Wired In team. (12,698 words)
Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: addiction recovery, belonging, craving, empowerment, hope, identity, meaningful activities, RAPT, reciprocity, recovery capital, safety, self-responsibility, sense of agency, stigma, support, trauma, understanding, withdrawal
