Paul Monks - Greater Manchester Probation Trust

CASESTUDY 04August 201004PAUL BEATS BOOZE AND DRUGSFormer heroin user and alcoholic Paul Monks hasturned his back on crime after having spent decadesbattling addictions.The 42-year-old started drinking when he was 14, and duringhis teenage years was arrested for fighting on a regular basis.After his most recent offence – carrying a blade in public - inAugust, 2009, he was given a suspended jail sentence.But with support from probation and Addiction Dependencyand Solutions (ADAS), Paul has quit all drugs.He said: “If I’d carried on how I was, I’d be dead by now.“I hit rock bottom, but finally I realised the drinkand the drugs were not the problem – it wasme, and my inability to live life properly.“Probation’s helped me realise that the drugs will killme, and thanks to ADAS I’ve managed to stay cleanfor the longest period since I can remember.”Paul currently lives in a sheltered accommodation property,but spends every weekend back with his partner andtwo children. He is also training to teach plastering.He said: “I love my kids more than I can express, but upuntil my last sentence, as long as they were safe, I’d drinkand take drugs and commit offences to fund my habits.“It’s taken me until now to see the emotionaldamage I’ve caused them.He said: “From the moment I opened my eyes tothe moment I closed them I was drinking.“I held down jobs, but I’d regularly get sacked for stealing frommy boss or for turning up late and disappearing to take drugs.“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve beenarrested, sacked or been in detox – but noneof it helped me address my problems.”After his last sentence, probation referred Paul toADAS, and he completed their 12‐step programme.The charity also part-funds his accommodation.He said: “I was stripped down to the bone. Iwas told ‘you hate your children, otherwise youwouldn’t have put them through all this’.“It made me see what I’d done to those I love. I apologised tomy eldest sonI had thought he was tough and could take itall, but no-one could have taken what I put them all through.“I used to think by buying him a pair of football boots Icould make it all right – but now I see I was psychotic.”Sue Baker, based at Varley Street, is Paul’s probation officerand she said: “It’s unusual to do that, but I could see how hardhe was trying and I thought ADAS was the key to him changing.“Previously Paul didn’t give a damn, I don’t think heeven cared if he lived or died, so the change in himhas been incredible. I am extremely proud of him.”“I looked on detox as a way to have a break until the next party.”Paul left school and became a plasterer’s apprentice, beforequalifying when he was 21. His life spiralled out of controlafter he was offered methadone by a friend, he was soonusing crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol in large quantities.“If I had carried on how I was,I’d be dead by now.”