This month we are asking ‘what does success look like?’. Every one of our support workers will tell you that their clients journeys are very rarely smooth, but that they have an incredible amount of resilience along the way.
‘A client of mine recently spent time in hospital for alcohol detox. He has a long history of drug and alcohol use, which he himself says is a means of self-medicating and a way to cope with the trauma of some horrendous life experiences. When it came to the end of the detox, the hospital were keen to discharge him. Our client was very insistent that he could not be released without the right support, specifically in relation to housing. His current property has been taken over by users and dealers and is being used as a squat. There are sleeping bags, IV drug paraphernalia, rubbish and human waste all over; the place is totally uninhabitable and totally unsafe. My client was very clear with staff that if he was released back into this environment, he would relapse and be back to drinking and using. I think it’s so easy to say “well just say no”, but in reality, how can anyone with a long history of a very powerful addiction say no when they are completely immersed in an environment where drink and drug use is not only acceptable but encouraged?
My colleague and myself fought hard to find suitable accommodation for our client, who was showing an amazing strength and determination to remain abstinent and improve his life. Unfortunately, he was discharged before suitable accommodation could be found. As you might suspect, the combination of being amongst other users, and having to cope with the horrendous living conditions he was in led him back to drink and drugs.
I saw him yesterday and he looked totally defeated. When I suggested that we try and get him another referral for treatment, he was reluctant. It seemed odd at first since he talks about wanting to recover quite regularly, but when he explained it, it made more sense.
He said: “I’m just so sick of rejection and knock-backs. If we go there again they are likely to say that my problems are due to my choice to drink and use, and I cant take any more rejection. The way they speak to me just makes me feel worse. When I was in hospital I felt like I was screaming from the rooftops for help, I said I wanted to stay off the drink and drugs but that I needed help to do that. They didn’t listen and told me I was fine, but now that the obvious has happened, when I turn up they just say “oh he’s been drinking again” and say its my fault for relapsing”.’
We work with many people who really do want positive change in their lives, and it’s very easy to say that someone has wasted a chance or that they don’t try hard enough to help themselves, but stories like this just go to show that sometimes our clients really do have the odds stacked against them when it comes to succeeding.’
Stories like this can be challenging for some. How many chances should a person be given to make positive progress forwards? At Simon on the Streets we believe that people should be offered unlimited opportunities for change. Our experience, over 15 years, has taught us that this unconditional and non-judgmental support allows those who are the hardest to reach to, over time, engender the motivation and self-esteem to make sustainable changes for a positive future.