SERVICES
MOVING ON
Earlier this year I spoke
with Jo, a graduate from
our Sheffield Residential
service. We talked at
length about her past,
her journey towards recovery and
her aspirations for the future.
Central to this was the rebuilding
of her relationship with her son and
her own mother.
Despite the adversity Jo faced in
her early years, she retained a fierce
desire to reclaim ownership of her
life. In late 2018, Jo was serving a
short prison sentence. This was not
her first, but she was determined it
would be her last. It was here that
her journey to recovery would begin.
‘While I was in prison I didn’t
engage with drugs. I reduced
my methadone and was clean. I
asked for help. I had to do groups
on relapse prevention. I did it all.
I proved myself. I thought it was
best to do this somewhere where I
couldn’t run away.’
After successfully detoxing and
making progress during her time
in prison, Jo was released in May
2019. ‘I was picked up at the gate
by my worker and went straight
to Phoenix in Sheffield. This was
my first time in rehab. At first I
intimidated people quite a lot in
the way I presented myself. I was
walking around like I was still on
the wing, acting like I had to defend
myself from everybody. But if I
didn’t act in that way, I wouldn’t
have known I needed to change.’
Jo reflected on her response to
her behaviour being challenged by
Jo took part in Phoenix Future’s
Voyage of Recovery, where
participants learned to sail a boat
while gaining skills to support
their long-term physical and
mental health.
Liam Ward talks to former Phoenix
Futures resident Jo, about rebuilding her
life and her relationship with with her son
her peers, and the process she went
through in being able to understand
the reasoning behind this. ‘At first
I didn’t think I was doing anything
wrong,’ she said. ‘You’re going to
have your defences up, but if you
listen and relate it to the work you’re
doing it all fits together.’
During her time in prison and
rehab, Jo had also taken the first
steps in repairing her relationship
with her three-year-old son. She
explained the circumstances that
had led to their separation. ‘I was
still using heroin and crack when I
was pregnant. I was still involved
in crime to support my habit,’ she
said. ‘Social services got involved.
‘In late 2018, Jo was
serving a short
prison sentence.
This was not her
first, but she was
determined it
would be her last.
It was here that her
journey to recovery
would begin.’
They gave me every opportunity. I
saw a judge every two weeks, had
appointments to see how I was
doing, and they tried getting me on
a methadone script. I suppose I had
gone through so much trauma that
it didn’t go that way.’
Arrangements were made
for Jo’s son to be cared for by his
grandmother. ‘A month before he
was born, I signed a document to
say my mum could look after him
on a special guardianship order.
He went as soon as he was born…’
Jo paused. ‘My son wasn’t my
first thought, it was myself and
my habit. When you’re on drugs
you don’t care about anyone but
yourself, you’re so selfish.’
I asked Jo what had changed,
and when she felt as though she
had become his mother again.
‘Where it started properly was when
I left rehab. Learning what he likes
to eat, what he likes to play with,
going out to parks, taking him to
nursery.’ Jo left rehab in November
2019, moving on to Phoenix
Futures’ supported housing. In the
following months she saw her son
more frequently and began making
plans around her future. This was
interrupted in March 2020 as the
coronavirus outbreak saw lockdown
measures imposed.
Despite this, Jo has retained
an optimistic outlook and feels
her pathway from prison into a
structured therapeutic community
and finally into supported housing
has prepared her well for living a
life with a certain set of restrictions
for her own wellbeing. ‘I’m finding
it easier than most people are. I
suppose coming from prison then
going to Phoenix, it feels like a carry
on. You’ve got to be peaceful and
grateful for where you are today. It’s
a massive transformation for me.’
I asked Jo if this had affected
her future plans. ‘I’m backwards
and forwards in my mind. I don’t
want to rush into anything. Some
days I feel like I’m ready to move
out of here and have my son come
live with me. It’s good to have a
chance to slow down and reflect,’
Jo continued. ‘Every day I’m still in
recovery. Every day I’m still learning
about myself.’
Liam Ward is residential
marketing manager at Phoenix
Futures. To read Jo’s full story visit
www.phoenix-futures.org.uk
12 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • JUNE 2020
WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM