Testimonials

I wanted to write to everyone at The Provy but have been procrastinating for a while as I often do but as I'm not coming up to 3 years drug and alcohol free I felt I must put pen to paper and show some gratitude for helping give me a life which never felt was possible. I guess as I'm coming up to an anniversary it makes it easier to reflect what things had been like for me and my family before I entered into the Providence Projects treatment programme.

I had been to seven rehabs including one in America and one in South Africa. The longest I had managed to stay drug free and sober was just five weeks. And, everyday of those five weeks was consumed with thinking about getting stoned. I hear that I was a dry drunk. One foot in recovery and the other in the pub or dealers. Once again I had my parents on my case telling mme how i was wasting my life and driving them to distraction. Unbeknown to me they had got in touch with the Providence Projects. A friend of theirs daughter had gone through The Provy detox and treatment programme about eighteen months earlier and was evidently continuing to do well. Reluctantly I agreed to go along, have a look round and be assessed.

I have to say upon meeting the staff I was quite blown away. I remember Steve Spiegel greeting us all in reception. My parents and sister had come with. Probably to make sure I arrived there. I had a chat with Steve first of all. He said, do you really want to stop? And I thought I'd just be honest, which was a novelty for me at the time, and said no not really. I'm hear for my parents and I know if I don't do it for myself my chances are slim. Nonsense, he said. Then I heard something that nobody had ever said to me before. We don't care why you're here or who you are here for. Lots of our clients are here for someone else and we don't care. He then said he never ever wanted to stop using heroin, coke, or booze. He said he just wanted some things in his life to be different. You don't have to be here for yourself but what if we detox you, put you through our treatment programme and you happen to like whats on offer which is basically a drug and alcohol free lifestyle which was exciting and fulfilling. How would that be for you? Maybe, after a few weeks you will also want to try to do it for yourself. How would that be for you? Wow! But I'm not motivated enough. Really, well we'll motivate you. By the way, while you're in treatment we insist on having fun and enjoyment. When was the last time you did that? Blimey, here was this old junkie (sorry Steve, no offence) offering me something that sounded attractive. I was now running out of excuses as to why I shouldn't give it a try. I was then introduced to Paul the treatment director. He took me off to meet the rest of the therapy team. I remember asking him, is that guy for real? Everyone has always told me that if I'm not ready to do rehab for myself, I'm not ready to do rehab. Nonsense, said Paul and then explained to me basically the same things that Steve had said. The trouble we have here is getting rid of people at the end of treatment. You will have such a positive fun packed time here you might not want to leave! Crikey what a double act, I thought. I then met Jon who assessed me and then introduced me to the people who were to become my peers. I just felt was warm and cared for. A similar feeling I had got from heroin when I first started using it. That was of course years earlier. Now the consequences to my using and drinking had become dire but could I really stop after all these years.
I was taken back to see my parents and sister and they were beaming. I think they felt some of the same hope that's felt. The first time in years I had really felt anything. We've got a bed just come up and it's yours. Why not. It was the best decision I'd ever made, going to the Providence Projects.
I was taken to meet Dr Turnbull who I instantly told my detox needs to be bigger then everyone else's. It'll probably be the biggest detox known to man as I'm a bad *** drug user. Of course you are, now I do the prescribing and this is what you are getting. Huh, so I had a pretty standard detox in order to come off the heroin, coke and booze and to be honest it was really good. I was of course terrified but most of the fears about having a detox were in my head. The support I got from my peers and the therapists was second to none. In fact I was kept so occupied I often forgot I was on detox.
The other peers were a mixed bunch from all walks of life which made the conversations really interesting. Before I knew it I was becoming interested in others which had taken my mind off drugs and alcohol without me realising it. And the fun activities, we're compulsory fun which we had to enjoy, and did!!! My family attended for therapy and I also went home on a couple of occasions before I completed my treatment. I forgot to mention that I agreed to attend for a maximum of six weeks. I ended up doing 12 weeks of treatment AND a further 12 weeks of aftercare and I successfully completed it without running away or even wanting to.

My life today is better than ever. Im in a loving relationship and my partner is pregnant. I'm going to be a dad! I guess I could go on and on but I have to go off to work. Yes, this heroin addict, dope fiend alcoholic is working full time and also attending college just in case I want to become a counsellor. Paul and Steve say I'd be really good at it. I'm still in touch with lots of my peers and my family have their son and brother back. We are all indebted so much to The Providence Project for this opportunity and to Dr Turnbull for prescribing exactly the detox i needed. To the staff for making it so interesting and appealing and for helping me become the person I am today. I'd didn't initially go to rehab for myself but I had to be there to give it a try and everything I was promised came true. This is without doubt the best treatment centre, rehab, life saving institute, whatever you want to call it in the world and believe me, this is the voice of experience talking. Drugs, alcohol, no thank you, give me life every time.