For many recovering addicts, the Salvation Army’s Harbour Light and Life Skills programmes are the rock on which they can rebuild their lives. SARAH LAGAN asked residents how they are working towards a brighter future.

• Resident 1 has been with the Salvation Army’s programmes for 11 months for his cocaine addiction.

“I came through the drug court programme. I was attracted to the spiritual aspects of the programme — I finished ten months of in-house treatment and have moved on to the Life Skills programme, which has opened the doors for me to get out into the community and start working.

“I have the addiction under control. They set up a good support system, they open the doors for AA and NA meetings — they can even hook you up with a sponsor. The Church is behind you and backing you.

“The tools they teach here they give you a deep look into the warning signs that lead up to relapse. It teaches you what to be aware of and to accept this disease of addiction. The bottom line is having the tools to cope with it.

“My life has definitely improved — before Harbour Light it was just unmanageable — I was involved in lots of crime, I was confused, frustrated and angry. It is a very serene and spiritual, peaceful place for an addict to have quiet time and gather yourself and restructure.

“My relationships at home were struggling. It opened the doors to me being able to communicate better with friends and family. They give you channels of communication — they open up the doors to make amends. I would recommend it 100 per cent.

• Resident 2 has been with the Salvation Army for 11 months dealing with alcohol and cocaine addiction. He has spent time in prison and relapsed after former attempts to give up.

“I can have as much help as I want, but if I don’t have a genuine desire it ain’t gonna work. I have not lived, I just basically existed, and I want to live. I am starting to get my life back but it is still a process. The last time I relapsed I went to prison rehab I wrote a letter to my sister and asked her to forgive me, again.

“At first she was naturally angry at me but eventually she came around and when she came around she said ‘this is your last chance’. And what did I do? I went and blew that last chance.

“Today she is still angry at me, but because I have been here for 11 months she is starting to come around very slowly; she brings my mother to come and visit me. It has given me an opportunity to think about what I want to do with the rest of my life in terms of employment. I am a newspaper junkie: I love reading the newspaper, local news, international news — I could be a reporter. A simple goal would be going up to the college and doing a course.

“You have to have a genuine authentic desire to turn your life around and not worry about what other people think about you. I would recommend it wholeheartedly. Treatment, well sometimes it can be stressful — it is a testing place, not a resting place. It can be really intense you can have really bad days but you have to keep an open mind.”

• Resident 3 has been with getting help from the Salvation Army for eight months having dealt with alcohol and cocaine addiction.

“I am learning about the addiction of cocaine and drugs and about myself. Many of us go through life doing these things and not knowing we have a problem. That was one of my faults — I didn’t think I had a problem with drink and drugs.

“Through the grace of God, he gave me a way out of my addiction. I found out about it through a friend. I didn’t know anything about programmes or about addiction or recovery. I didn’t think I could stop using drugs for a day — even an hour. This is coming outside of my comfort zone. I’m coming on leaps and bounds.

“I know this wouldn’t happen if I hadn’t come to treatment and I am proud and happy that someone is reaching out their hand to me.

“My life is joyous, happy and free today. This is the longest I have ever been without drugs.”