Josh’s Journey from Crisis to Recovery with Impact Young People’s Service

Now age 18, Josh from East Yorkshire was 16 when first started smoking cannabis with friends in the park, he never imagined it would lead to a spiral of substance misuse, mental health struggles, and repeated hospital admissions. What began as “just weed” quickly escalated to experimenting with alcohol, cocaine, and ketamine, culminating in several overdoses and a dramatic decline in his wellbeing.

From Carefree Childhood to Crisis

Josh describes a happy childhood and strong family ties, but after his GCSEs, boredom and the thrill of trying new things led him down a dangerous path. “We smoked a joint and laughed for hours, it was great fun,” he recalls. But over a few weeks, the fun faded, replaced by anxiety and overwhelming feelings. “With drinking or taking drugs, I never knew when to stop, I was always the one who got completely smashed,” Josh admits.

As his substance use intensified, so did his mental health challenges. Depression and self-harm became constant companions, with Josh being admitted to hospital on a weekly basis due to severe self-inflicted injuries. His family, shocked and desperate for answers, turned to Impact Young People’s Service for help.

Understanding Josh’s Experience

There are many factors that can lead a young person down the path of substance misuse, and each journey is unique. In Josh’s case, he describes feeling bored and initially saw drinking and taking drugs as a source of fun and excitement. However, within his group of friends, Josh was the only one whose life was so deeply impacted - while one other friend experienced an overdose, it was Josh’s mental health that suffered most profoundly, leading him to self-harm as a way to cope. The depression he felt after drug use became so overwhelming that self-harm seemed like the only way to find relief.

“My Mum knew there was something going on,” Josh explains. “I was staying out for two or three days at a time. My friend’s mum wasn’t really paying attention so we started there and when I went home I’d just sleep all day. At first, my parents thought I was just drinking, but they were really shocked when they were called to A&E after my first overdose - my Mum couldn’t believe I’d been taking drugs.”

Support Without Judgment

Sam Glass, Josh’s Recovery Worker, explains the service’s approach: “We support young people at the stage they are at. We would never tell a client they had to stop using. That would have an adverse effect.” This client-led, non-judgmental support helped Josh open up about his struggles and start to views his life with more positivity.

Josh’s friends, though still using ketamine themselves, respected his decision to stop and supported his recovery. After a two-month period of abstinence, Josh relapsed, but instead of giving up, he used the experience as a turning point. “The good feeling from ketamine is just not worth it for the come down,” he says.

Is Weed a Gateway Drug?

“For me it was, definitely. I honestly thought, it’s only weed but I quickly moved on to different types of drugs, and the fun was short lived.”

Building a Brighter Future

With continued support from Impact, Josh has not self-harmed since January 2025 and is now three weeks sober from ketamine after a brief relapse. He’s working 12-hour shifts in a factory, enrolled on a college course, and looks forward to a future as a full-time joiner. “Work has been brilliant for me. I needed the structure,” Josh shares.

Sam notes the transformation: “When we first met, Josh was very pale and underweight. Now he has colour in his cheeks and has gained some weight. He’s much more bouncy and seems happy.” The service also works to educate families about relapse and recovery, helping them understand that setbacks are part of the journey.

Words of Wisdom

Reflecting on his journey, Josh says, “Drugs take your time away but now I feel like I have time. Although drugs are fun for a while, it soon dies out, it left me just feeling regret. Now I have energy, I never felt like this while I was using.” He credits open and honest conversations with his family as a key to his recovery: “Once my family knew what was going on, I could talk to them about it. I didn’t have to hide anything.”

Sam adds, “Josh is smashing it now. Our whole team is so proud of what he has achieved.”

A Message of Hope

Josh’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery starts with a single day and builds from there. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug or alcohol use, Impact Young People’s Service is here to help - without judgment, and at your own pace.

If you are worried about your own drug and/or alcohol use, or you are concerned about someone else, please contact Impact via 01482 320606 hnf-tr.impact@nhs.net.

This story is shared with Josh’s permission and we have changed his name. Josh wants to inspire hope and awareness about the realities of substance misuse and the importance of compassionate support.