Few journeys reflect determination and resilience quite like that of Thomas, whose life in his late thirties is strikingly different from where he began. For fifteen years, Thomas used cannabis as a way to self-medicate - at times spending up to £350 a week just to make it through each day. For years, his habit was kept hidden, sandwiched between early mornings, full shifts at work, and evening routines, all while quietly masking the effects of unresolved trauma.

Everything changed in 2018 when a family court decision gave Thomas an ultimatum: give up substances for good or lose the chance to raise his triplet daughters. Supported under Social Services supervision, Thomas fought to adapt, using their guidance to learn parenting and rebuild his life. After a year, his social worker encouraged him to contact the East Riding Partnership, where the chance to train as a Peer Mentor marked the start of a new chapter.

Diploma in Substance Misuse
That first spark of possibility soon became a full flame. By 2022, Thomas had earned positions first as a Trainee Recovery Worker, then as a Trainee Case Manager. But what truly set this chapter apart was Thomas’s decision to formalise his knowledge and insight by enrolling in the Diploma in Substance Misuse - with the steady encouragement and tailored support of his tutor, Cheryl Howley, completed it in just 12 months. The diploma did not merely confirm his professional skill; it represented a personal triumph and tangible signal that his journey of recovery had, indeed, prepared him for a new kind of future.

It’s impossible to separate this achievement from the shadows of Thomas’s past. Raised in Moss Side, Manchester, he contended with the aftermath of childhood abuse, bullying, and an unstable family environment, which resulted in complex PTSD. For years, cannabis dulled what he described as a “massive crack covered with a BandAid” - an emotional wound requiring more than self-medication and secrecy could address. When the circumstances of his former partner reached a crossroads, Thomas’s decision to seek help not only broke a cycle for himself, but altered the future for his children.

Substance Freedom
Seven years free from substances, Thomas’ face lights up when he talks about his family and his work - his daughters now preparing for secondary school - and reflects on the self-understanding that came with his recovery. While no one had known the depth of his struggles, in 2022, realisations prompted by therapy allowed him to confront the reasons behind his addiction and take steps toward healing.

Now managing a caseload of 27 clients at Becca House for the East Riding Partnership, Thomas draws on both lived experience and new qualifications to support others. He has also trained as a phlebotomist - significantly reducing delays for blood tests, an important aspect of substance misuse recovery.

Thomas explains, “My lived experience helps me to understand the situation of my clients. I talk about my experience if it feels relevant, but everyone’s recovery is about them, not me.”

Thank you ADS
He is adamant that hard work and a forward-looking mindset are essential, not only to his personal progress, but to breaking the generational cycles that once felt inevitable. “I lost 15 years of my life, working just to pay for cannabis. Who knows what I might have achieved if I’d been able to see this sooner. I’m enjoying life.”

Grateful for the support he’s received, Thomas highlights the impact of his tutor, Cheryl, whose motivation and structure helped him succeed, and the ongoing encouragement and training from The Alcohol and Drug Service. “ADS are brilliant for training and supported me at every stage. I don’t know where I’d be without them.”

His mindset, “Proceed as if success is inevitable.” In Thomas’s story, this isn’t just his motto - it’s a reality he’s living, charting a new path for himself, his family, and those he now helps find hope in recovery.