But when he walked into Smithfield, everything changed. The staff understood what addiction was like, and treated him with respect, dignity, and compassion, without judgment.
"The staff were amazing and I got on really well with all the other clients. This reignited my passion to work in addiction services once again. I heard that Turning Point offered the opportunity to all clients to come back and become peer mentors. This was my first goal for when I left detox."
Andy felt at home and rekindled his passion to work in addiction services. When he heard that Turning Point offered the opportunity for clients to become peer mentors, he set his sights on achieving that goal.
After six months of abstinence, Andy completed the training and began working shifts on the unit. The staff recognized his natural rapport with clients, and 12 months later, he was offered a support worker position. Today, Andy is five and a half years abstinent from all substances and has been a support worker for nearly four years.
"Today I am 5 and half years abstinent from all substances and have been a support worker nearly four years. Smithfield is like one big family.
We pull together when times get tough, we treat people with compassion, dignity and respect. And today I am able to offer my hand to the new admission, shake their hand and let them know 'Everything’s going to be ok, were going to look after you here.' And the most important thing is we understand!"
Andy's story is a testament to the power of peer support and the transformative impact of compassionate care. At Turning Point, we're committed to helping people like Andy find their way out of addiction and into a life of possibility. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, we're here to help.
You can create positive change in your life too. Get in touch with us.