Stewart's Story
Meet Stewart. Stewart is part of Pathways to Recovery, our free drug and alcohol treatment service based in Warrington.
Pathways is sharing real experiences to show the person behind recovery and encourage our community to show that compassion can open doors to a brighter future, for all.
They invite us to look beyond our assumptions and see the person: their journey, resilience, hopes and dreams.
“I had many attempts at recovery before I came to Pathways. The first time I drank, it lit me up. There’s a video of me at my mum’s wedding, minesweeping Prosecco off the tables at seven years old. At the time it was laughed off. Now I look back and think, look at you, already hardwired for it.
At 14, I was sneaking out of school to drink. When I started work as a joiner’s apprentice, I was waking up with the shakes. I was already physically dependent.
I was first hospitalised at 21. After that I detoxed almost every year, in different hospitals. There was a lot of stigma back then. Nurses would say, “You’re so young, why would you want to do this with your life?” as if it was an active choice.
Physically, I could detox. Mentally, I couldn’t cope with life, and I always went back to alcohol. And alcohol was a pathway to many other substances.
Things began to change when I stopped believing there was only one way to recover. I describe my recovery as a ‘Technicolour Dreamcoat,’ taking bits from different places: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, Pathways… For me, it’s about building a better relationship with myself. People attach themselves to a substance when they’re isolated and have low self-worth.
We’re really blessed in Warrington with Pathways’ activities timetable. There’s something almost every day: walking groups, therapy, creative sessions. It’s not one-size-fits-all.
Pathways’ recovery programme was a turning point for me. I was challenged gently, asked the right questions at the right time. I didn’t always like it, but it worked.
I talked about things I’d never spoken about before, like my feelings and vulnerability. It stripped away the beliefs that were holding me back. Now I’m more present for my family and my kids. My partner has never seen me in active addiction.
I’m now an Opiate Recovery Worker at Pathways. I know how hard it is to walk through that door for the first time, so I always try to see the person behind the behaviour.
Stigma keeps people trapped in addiction; it only adds to the feelings of shame and isolation. There’s been a big shift in how we discuss mental health, which has led to more people getting support.
To anyone scared to ask for help, I say: take the leap. There are places that will see you without judgement and help you build the tools to cope.”
Visit the Pathways to Recovery website to read more stories from people who have been supported by our service in Warrington, and discover what you can do to support a more compassionate Warrington.