Essex mum features in Healthwatch Essex drug addiction campaign

She battled severe drug addiction during her teens and into early adulthood. She hit some really low points, but now clean, she is using her story of survival and her life experience to help others.

Alex, who is now 33, sought help from Open Road, the Colchester-based drug and alcohol recovery service to begin her journey to recovery.

She said: “I would go to work, be doing cocaine at work, picking up more on the way home and then drink at home and smash a few sleeping tablets to knock me out.

“Then I’d struggle to get up the next day. Sometimes my kids went to school, sometimes they didn’t.

“I just didn’t care. I don’t know what came over me.

“All that mattered to me was where I was going to get my gear and how much money would I have left over for alcohol.

“I had to hit rock bottom to pick myself up again.

“It’s amazing to me that I’ve survived at all, but now I want to use my experience to help others.”

Alex, from Colchester, is part of the campaign launched by Healthwatch Essex to help people who are dealing with addiction.

Family time - Alex smiling with her daughter. Picture: Andrew Fergus

The campaign has been designed by people who are recovering from drug, alcohol and gambling addictions offering peer support to others.

Samantha Glover, chief executive of Healthwatch Essex, said: “The challenges of the past few years, with multiple lockdowns, restrictions and financial challenges for many, compounded by the stress of the pandemic itself, has been challenging for people battling addiction.

“It was against this backdrop we felt it important to gather people’s experiences of addiction services, hearing what had worked well for them and what could be improved upon.

“The work we have done over the past year has helped us form a picture and the participants were so keen to help others. This campaign emerged out of that work.

“We hope that sharing their stories widely and highlighting the importance of the peer-led support which all of our participants found so valuable will help others realise that recovery really is possible.”

Each of the participants recorded some short clips which were shared on social media reaching a combined audience of more than half a million people and sparking important conversations about addiction support.

The campaign also features the story of Chris Gilham, 40, from Essex, who developed a gambling addiction which saw him contemplate taking his own life.

He said: “I was totally consumed mentally by it, 24 hours a day.

“I’d wake up in the morning and I would be thinking about my first bet.

Distracted - Alex on her phone. Picture: Andrew Fergus

“I started to drink heavily as well and it spiralled to the point where I started to consider taking my own life because I could see no other way out.

“I wanted to make sure that my family was provided for, but when I checked my pension I wasn’t sure it would pay out if I took my own life so I made a plan to gamble with my own money and a huge bank loan which would have brought in £200,000. Then I planned to take my own life that night.

“Fortunately, I lost the bet and, with it, all the money. I knew I couldn’t then take my life, leaving my family in such a bad place, so I thought the only thing I can do, is try to get help.

“That was four years ago now and life is so much better. I no longer gamble, I lead a good life and I’m happy. ”

Lisa Walker, 48, also struggled with addiction for many years after her gambling spiralled out of control following a big win of £127,000 at a casino in Essex.

She said: “I had always gambled, but after that win, my gambling escalated.

“At one point I remember gambling £4,000 in one day at a bookmakers and I knew it was a problem but I just didn’t know how to stop.

“In the end, I spent some of my £127,000 winnings, but then, instead of paying off my house, I gambled the rest.

“Not only did I lose it all, I re-mortgaged the house three times and took out bank loans and credit cards.”

Lisa had to declare herself bankrupt and was homeless with her children.

She said: “I’m now back on my feet and am starting a women’s addiction support group for others who are struggling with gambling. I want people to know that they aren’t alone.”

• For more, go to healthwatchessex.org.uk. If you are feeling suicidal call the Samaritans on 116 123.