Client Case Studies

John's Story
My name is John.  I am 44 years old of no fixed abode.  I was referred to FIRST from the Community Drugs Team for on going support and relapse prevention.  I was on a script of 65mls of methadone and 10mg of Valium per day.  However, I was also topping up with a £10 bag and using cannabis every day.  I didn’t know what FIRST could do for me but I went along.  We had what they call a pre-assessment.  They told me about what they do and asked me about myself and what I was looking for.  I wanted to get off the stuff, get a job, you know, get my life back.

My Rehabilitation Worker and I did a Care Plan.  What I wanted to do was to only use my script and fill in my time as boredom for me was a big problem.  With my worker I did a lot of different things to get me to focus on using my script and when I was ready my worker contacted my Careers Advisor at the Job Centre and between the two of them they told me about Progress to Work.  The programme was just what I was looking for - something that was full-time and 5 days a week, in Construction.  I will be getting some certificates along the way, I am also attending Adult Basic Education to bring all my skills up.  We had what they call a three-way meeting with me, my Progress to Work Worker and my Rehabilitation Worker to ensure that I am getting the support I need.  The final thing I needed was a place to stay.  My Rehabilitation Worker had contacted the Levenmouth Homeless Trust (Cornerstone Project) and put my name down for a scatter flat.  I was lucky.  I got a flat within eight weeks.

This has all taken place over the past seven months.  My days are now full, I go home after my work and get my tea.  By 9pm I am falling asleep, I go to bed for 10pm and now I can fall asleep and I get up for 6 am feeling fresh and this is because I have something to get up for, I feel that I am part of society.  What FIRST did was to make me see that I could move on.

Jane's Story (click here)