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"I've been in regular contact with Compass and with their support, have stayed drug free"

Getting People into Treatment

Tom, 26
My experimentation with drugs began when I was just 15 and finally led to an addiction to heroin that has been ongoing for the past six years.

I stopped using heroin while serving a prison sentence and managed to stay clean for about six months following my release. My relapse happened when I started associating with people who I knew to be heroin users. In hindsight, I can see that I was still drawn to heroin.

I was arrested and referred to the Compass Arrest Referral Scheme. By this time, I'd been using again for 18 months.

My parents had given me an ultimatum to either stop using heroin or leave the family home. My partner was pregnant and I knew I needed to take a responsible role in becoming a parent. I wanted to get a job so I could support my family. All of this made me realise I needed to sort out my heroin addiction.

My Arrest Referral worker referred me to the Compass clinic where a GP agreed to put me on a detox programme, as long as I agreed to stay in contact with the clinic and my arrest referral worker.

Since then, I've been in regular contact with Compass and with their support, have stayed drug free. I look to the future now and hopefully, with support, will stay drug free.

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