Summary
Anne-Marie was referred to the Frontline Make Change Community Prison Links service by a family member while she was completing a prison sentence. She had struggled with addiction for a long time and had been prescribed methadone for several years. However, the decisions Anne-Marie had been making in her life had recently led to her being imprisoned, and she had reached a point where she was desperate to make a change. Read about her journey from prison to recovery.
Anne-Marie’s experience is one that may be familiar to people who have experienced long-term drug use – a chaotic lifestyle, broken relationships and a moment of crisis that leads to change.
Anne-Marie was referred to the Frontline Make Change Community Prison Links service by a family member while she was completing a prison sentence. She had struggled with addiction for a long time and had been prescribed methadone for several years. However, the decisions Anne-Marie had been making in her life had recently led to her being imprisoned, and she had reached a point where she was desperate to make a change.
A CRISIS POINT
The first step in this process was for Frontline’s Community Prison Links (CPL) worker to arrange a meeting with Anne-Marie in prison. During this first meeting, she shared that she had been using drugs for a significant part of her life and explained the devastating impact this had had on her relationships with her children and family. At this stage, Anne-Marie had reached a crisis point and knew that she could not continue living the chaotic life she had been stuck in for so long.
Although asking for help was difficult at first, Anne-Marie knew that she needed support to move away from the chaos and despair she had been experiencing. Most importantly, she wanted to make changes that would allow her to rebuild her relationships with her children and loved ones.
PERSONALISED SUPPORT
Following these initial discussions, the CPL worker met with Anne-Marie a number of times. Together, they developed a comprehensive support and treatment plan based around her individual needs and goals. As part of this plan, Anne-Marie was supported through a methadone detoxification while she remained in custody.
In addition, the plan involved working collaboratively with other support services and prison stakeholders. This joined-up approach helped to ensure that Anne-Marie had access to the appropriate supports she needed to address her substance use and begin making positive changes in her life.
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
A significant milestone in Anne-Marie’s recovery came when she successfully completed her prescribed methadone detoxification while in prison. Following her release, she moved into a drug-free residential treatment programme. This transition allowed her to continue the progress she had made while in custody, while providing her with a supportive environment in which to focus on her recovery.
DRUG-FREE
Throughout her recovery journey, Anne-Marie has faced and overcome significant difficulties and challenges. However, with the right support and her own determination, she has now been drug-free for over a year – an achievement that would not have been possible without the support she so bravely sought out.
Since then, Anne-Marie has worked hard to rebuild relationships with her family and children. She is now looking forward to moving into her own home and continuing to build an independent life. She is also planning to start college, reflecting the significant progress she has made and her hopes for the future.
If you or a loved one need addiction support, you can get in touch with us via email at info@frontlinemc.ie or by calling 01 4736502.
Our service is free, confidential and non-judgmental.
Find out how our Community Prison Links service has helped others here.
