10 September 2024
Tom's Story
Meet Tom from West Cornwall. His journey with heroin started over 20 years ago. He first contacted WithYou in the early noughties.
"I was going through a lot at the time," says Ian. "I was homeless and living on the streets. I was in my twenties, and I was hanging around with a bunch of people, and a few of them were heroin takers - I ended up taking it one day and soon got into the habit."
Tom knew that he needed to make a positive change in his life. He found a place to live in Penzance and started to distance himself from his friends who were using heroin.
"I first approached WithYou when I was living in Penzance, as I felt that I needed someone to talk to," explains Tom. "WithYou put me in contact with their councillors in Penzance, and I also started attending one-to-one meetings at WithYou, which really helped."
"Treatment was tough to start with, but by talking to the staff at WithYou, and by using the help that I received, it started to get easier and easier," explains Tom.
"I've been in contact with WithYou on and off for the last 20 years - I use them as a safety net, and they've been brilliant. I've been prescribed Subutex, which I take every day. It keeps me on the straight and narrow."
"If you really want to give up, go and get help - go to WithYou and go and talk to your doctor. Heroin is a hard thing to get over and lasts for years. I’ve given it up for years, but I’m still dealing with it - I suffer from anxiety and depression, which is down to heroin use."
"There have been times over the years when I’ve gone back and dabbled [with heroin], but If it wasn’t for WithYou, I’m not sure if I would have come out the other side. Plenty of my friends are dead from heroin, and I’m relieved that I’m still here."