Following childhood trauma, Chris first used substances as a young teen.
He had a poor upbringing, was bullied at school and found solace in alcohol and cannabis. At sixteen he tried heroin. Chris remembers, ‘I’ve been weed on. I’ve been called scum. I’ve watched people rape people and seen a lot stabbed.’ He knew that if he didn’t get help, he would end up murdered, or dead. After two failed attempts at detox, he turned to The Salvation Army, and that’s when things started to go right.
After two years in the loving care of The Salvation Army, he’s a new person and has been clean of drugs and alcohol for eight months. Chris’s journey to recovery is a wonderful example of how The Salvation Army’s work can save and change lives. Please give what you can. It could mean everything to someone who has lost all hope and needs a loving friend.
Anthony, the local church leader, helped Chris find a path out of homelessness and addiction. Since then, Chris has been following a 12-step programme for recovery which includes physical and mental health, and, when he falters and struggles, supportive staff are always available to encourage and help him. He was amazed at the support he received from us. ‘I can’t praise this place enough,’ he says. 'The counselling has been brilliant, and I’ve got lots of stuff out about my childhood that I’ve never spoken about before.’
Chris has a long way to go to full recovery, but he has a clear goal. He wants a future. He wants a job. ‘I want normal things,’ he says with a smile. ‘I want my own front door, a little dog and a car.’
It takes love, skill and resolute determination to help people like Chris. Please will you help us with a donation, so that we are always here for people who are desperate and alone?