DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER five years I’ve finally managed to get clean from my drug addiction, but I now spend every day worried I’m going to fall back into my old habits.
I’m a 30-year-old woman and I was 22 when I first started dabbling with drugs.
I had fallen into the wrong type of crowd after I finished university and they were always experimenting with different types of substances.
To begin with, I could take or leave them, but over time I started exploring more hardcore drugs.
I wasn’t thinking of the lifelong consequences, what mattered was hanging out and keeping up with my mates.
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Then by the age of 25, I was fully addicted to cocaine and I lost all sense of purpose.
I became a horrible person and would say and do anything to get my next fix.
My addiction took over my life and I lost countless friends and family members before I finally went to rehab six months ago.
Now I’m sober and I have regained hope for my future, but I live every waking moment worried I’m going to slip up.
DEIDRE SAYS: Well done for taking the hardest step and getting clean.
Overcoming addiction isn’t easy and you should be very proud of yourself.
But you are right - staying clean is constantly challenging. When life throws its latest challenge your way the temptation will be to turn back to drugs.
Narcotics Anonymous (ukna.org, Tel: 0300 999 1212) can help you stay clean, when those inevitable challenges arrive.
Contact StandAlone (standalone.org.uk) for more advice on reconnecting with estranged family.