Genre: Opinion/Argumentation

Mark's Story ( Coverage : UK Wide ) I really do n't want people to think that I am blaming my parents , because what I 've done is my responsibility . But right from the start the most important people in my life had liberal views when it came to drug culture . And that makes a difference when you are growing up . Maybe if they had n't been so relaxed about drugs and made me work at school .... but then again who is to say that I would n't have rebelled ? I was about 14 the first time I got caught shoplifting little toys from a newsagents . I got a conditional warning from the police . Then a while later I broke into a bubble gum machine at 2am – I 'd blagged my mum saying I was stopping overnight with a mate . A passing taxi driver alerted the police and I got a caution . I did n't see myself as a criminal then . I did my first burglary when I was 15 – it was a scout hut . But did n't get caught . After a while I started experimenting with other drugs and associating with much older drug users . I was still going to school when I was n't coming down from the previous night's session . I do n't know how I never got myself suspended or expelled . At least then I could have blamed not getting any qualifications on that . By the time I left school I was taking anything I could get my hands on : speed , LSD , mushrooms , alcohol and prescription pills and potions . I nearly died on one occasion ; I 'd taken 160mg of Valium - probably enough to knock a horse off its feet . The next thing I knew was three days later being slapped and beaten by friends and family to get my adrenalin pumping through my body . I had been unconscious . I dread to think what could have happened if I had been on my own or if nobody had cared at the time . Heroin and crack were n't really around then like they are now . So I never contemplated trying either of them when I was younger . I had always perceived heroin and crack cocaine as a rich man's drug . I thought it was totally out of my league . In any case at the time I was enjoying how my life was going and I did n't realise then that I had a drug problem . I was n't going out committing crime to feed my drug use because most of it was given to me . So I was going through life in a permanently stoned state , not worrying about the future and thinking everything was okay . Little did I know what was ahead for me . I lived on and off with my mum . She and Dad split up when I was eight and she remarried when I was 19 . We moved up from the South to the Midlands . I started work as a trainee printer . I started hanging out with the well known criminal fraternity and made contacts . This is when I got into the heavy end of the drug scene and started with heroin . My first big crime was against a bank . I was done for theft and using a false instrument – I managed to cash cheques for £ 10 , 000 . I got two years probation and was ordered to pay £ 3 , 000 compensation . Then I got a 21 month prison sentence for a dwelling house burglary which I 'd done to get money to buy heroin . I got 84 days to run concurrently for not paying my compensation . But by then I was n't going to be able to pay off a fine while I was paying for heroin . It was scary in prison at first . On the first night I tried to hang myself with bed sheets . I was so frightened of coming off heroin and knew I would n't get any help in prison . I was put in a special cell where I was observed for 5-6 days , and then moved back into the general prison population . I did n't get assessed , or see a psychiatrist or get anti-depressants . I did feel better though once I 'd come off heroin after about two weeks . Although I did know what I was doing I was so in need of drugs I 'd almost do anything . It 's a difficult thing to explain to someone who is n't an addict . It makes you do things you know are wrong because somehow you just do n't seem to care about other people anymore . You see I 'd borrowed money and sold stuff , so I 'd exhausted all my options . I felt I had no option but to turn to crime . I went back to mum 's after prison . I stayed clean for two weeks and then started using again . Within four weeks I was back inside again for another burglary . I got two and a half years . I was never worried about doing the time – just coming off the heroin . I 'd work as a cleaner inside . I think I still had depressive and suicidal tendencies but never did anything again . I got a basic computer qualification while I was in prison . I did the lay prison programme twice too , a four-month rehabilitation package . Then I started thinking about my future . I did n't like being in prison . When I got out that time I was determined to socialise with a different set of people . I started working for a local building company , it was a good job and I earned good money legally . But I was n't used to it – and what did I spend it on ? Heroin and crack . My life took a major downward spiral as I got the sack and was unemployed with a massive habit . I did more burglaries and got caught again and was remanded in prison for eight months . Then in Crown Court I was given the opportunity to start a Drug Treatment and Testing Order ( DTTO ) run by the probation service . It has been helpful . At first I had to go in every day and also have my urine tested by nurses twice weekly to check if I was still using . I 've also had to see a doctor regularly and I 've had some counselling and treatment from psychiatric nurses which has helped . The probation staff got me on the 12 week Princes Trust Programme which involved a week-long residential team building exercise – we looked at issues around disability , health and safety , food hygiene , first aid and blind awareness . I led a community project with the Princes Trust , clearing an overgrown graveyard which was thought to be used by drug users . So now local people can use it again and feel safe . It felt good to be a leader on something so constructive . I want to experience that feeling again . My Probation Officer said I also had to attend an Enhanced Thinking Skills Programme . This involved working in a group with other offenders for 22 sessions . Although I knew a lot of it already , it 's conditioned me to put stuff into practice . Thinking things through before I act . Considering consequences , long-term and short-term . Taking responsibility . Considering others . I 'm sorry for what I 've done and who I 've hurt . I am going to get as many qualifications as I can and hope to go into youth and community work . I reckon with my experiences I can hopefully help others . Attending the Princes Trust Programme has really given me some confidence . I was surprised at how good it was . I have n't had a habit for 18 months now , and have been completely clean of heroin for 6 months now . I still have a few bad days . I visited a few old mates recently who are still taking the gear . I just feel cold towards heroin now . There 's no more crime in my life . I am on benefit – so things are tight . But I have a good girlfriend now and she knows all about my past and is prepared to stand by me . I 've got a decent flat from a housing association in a nice quiet area away from any drug users . Probation really have helped me a lot . I 'm so very grateful as my life has been turned around .