Son turned to stealing from family home to fund addiction, recalls Highland mum raising awareness of the damage caused by stigma around problem drug and alcohol use
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Former nurse Nancy recalls her son’s drug addiction became so bad a few years ago, she kept her money in her knickers.
“There were times when I didn’t want to see him because I was so angry and hurt by the things he had said and done,” she reflected.
“He would steal out of the house. He would steal money. He would steal alcohol. He would steal things to sell.
“When things were really bad with my son, the only safe place to keep my money was in my pants.”
Nancy – who does not want to give her full name – has joined other parents from a newly-formed support group in Inverness to raise awareness of the damage caused by the stigma of problem drug and alcohol use and how it can stop those affected from being able to get help.
They also maintain there is a lack of understanding and help available.
Her son’s drugs problems began when he was aged just 15 – 25 years ago.
After finding cannabis in their son’s bedroom at their Inverness home, her late husband went to the police but was advised it was a phase.
Her son later went to Beechwood House, which offers residential rehabilitation to people affected by substance use, before ending up in Polmont Young Offenders Institution where he had his first heroin fix.
But Nancy was determined not to let the situation affect her work or to hide the problem.
"I think probably going to work was my saviour," she said. "I could leave everything at the door and help people who needed my help as a nurse and then pick up all the rubbish on my way home."
Nancy now lives in Caithness and said her son has had good and bad spells over the years.
"I always worry about him, if I don't hear from him," she said.
She said addiction affects the whole family but is often a taboo subject.
"Addiction is an illness just like being diabetic, or having a heart problem or dementia," she said.
A newly-formed peer-led group for families affected by addiction meets at Merkinch Community Centre every Tuesday from 10.30am to noon when people can get together for a chat and share their experiences.
It comes as the Scottish Government recently launched a campaign calling for drug and alcohol problems to be treated as a health condition and encouraging people to see the personal story behind the stereotype.
Audit Scotland, meanwhile, this month called for greater transparency on how money is spent to improve drug and alcohol services.
Anyone wanting to join the group should call 07983 001962.
Stigma associated with addiction can lead to dark and lonely place
