I looked after my brothers and sisters as I was the eldest. I was very compassionate I literally thought that I personally was able to save people's lives – and that I could do it all myself. I met a young lady who was on barbiturates and I took it on myself to try and rescue her from this lifestyle. I managed to get her away from her boyfriend who was giving her drugs and she went into hospital. Later she became my girlfriend and we went away together - saved, or so I thought. After a few days we had a massive argument and she walked out, heading back to her old city and her old boyfriend. By the time I reached her she had overdosed and tragically died.

Before this happened, I was a supermarket department manager with a great career ahead of me. One afternoon, I came home feeling somewhat fed up after a bad day at work. Leaning out the window, I could hear my flat-mates having a great time and I simply craved what they had. They were on LSD, so I starting using this drug. I soon lost my job as I could not get this drug out of my system, and I began ‘tripping’ every week. It was in this state that I met Angie, and recognizing that she was addicted to barbiturates, I thought I could help her!

Desperately disappointed by my failure to help Angie, my life began spiraling out of control. Even though I had various relationships and got married and had two beautiful children, I could not hold my life together. Alcohol and drugs became my masters. My marriage collapsed, I slowly lost practically everything – including my self-respect - despite trying hard along the way to stem the tide and rescue myself.

I was in such a mess that my sister came, put me in a car, and took me to a small, remote cottage outside Aberdeen. My family moved to Morecambe and I came back to live with them there. Now, my drinking was way out of control and I started taking drugs again. I went through detox several times. My last detox was at Easter time, and I found a Bible and started reading it and praying for God to help me. My experience seemed similar (in my mind) to Jesus' journey to the cross, and I somehow identified with him. This time, when I began to slip from this detox, I sought out a group of Christians to help me, and surrendered my life to God. I received prayer and I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my life and give me the strength to live without drugs and alcohol. In the presence of the people praying for me, I confessed my addictions and felt tremendous relief. My body shook with tears of repentance - yet at the same time I felt strangely happy. I knew then that the battle was over, and that I was now part of a family where I would be supported in my new life.

In the following few months I noticed a great change. I no longer needed to drink and take drugs, and I now enjoyed meeting with my new Christian friends.

I soon became involved in helping others who were caught in the trap of addiction, but this time I really have something to offer! I have now become part of a team of people who share the same desire to rescue people using the highest power available – the power that rescued me.