13/01/2025
The story of Ross, who the San Patrignano UK Association helped enter the community in 2018 ๐
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๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ: ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐
The first two photos Iโm sharing today are from a life I never thought Iโd escape. I was heavily addicted to he**in and a range of other substances, which controlled every aspect of my existence. My days and nights were spent using drugs in various flats around Aberdeen, often with bare floorboards and devoid of basic human comforts. I wore long sleeved jumpers to hide the track marks on my arms, and my acquaintances were all people like me - people whose thoughts were so consumed by the need to escape life that nothing else mattered.
My heart still breaks for those people. Many of those I spent my days with are no longer here. No one wants to live their life like that, and each person I met had a story of how they ended up there. Trauma was a common thread - events and pain that were entirely out of their control.
I had stopped looking after myself. I barely ate, my mental health was in pieces, and I no longer cared whether I lived or died. I saw unimaginable suffering, frequent violence, and the raw reality of life for those who had lost all hope and who couldnโt see a way out.
For those struggling with addiction in the shadows of towns and cities across Scotland, the UK and the world, the only focus is making sure you have a constant supply of drugs, to numb the pain and to avoid the unbearable agony of withdrawal. Most are unable to get or hold down a job, and so crime becomes a way of life.
I tried countless times to get my life on track. I went through two stays in rehab, I attended groups and went on recovery courses, but each time, I found myself slipping back into the same destructive cycle of addiction. It often felt like change was impossible, yet a part of me refused to give up.
Eventually, through determination and perseverance, I found a way forward. In 2018, I made the life-changing decision to move away from Scotland. I moved to a recovery community in Italy called San Patrignano, where I spent 3 and a half years. That choice became the turning point in my life.
The next two photos are of me today. They represent what is possible when hope is reignited.
Today, I am proud to say that I have been in recovery for six years. My life is unrecognisable from those dark days: I have my own flat in a different area of Scotland, I passed my driving test and bought my first car. Iโve rebuilt my relationship with my family. I have a loving and supportive girlfriend, and last year, I launched my own business, Nera Luxury Candles, which focuses on raising awareness of addiction.
But beyond the material things, itโs the emotional and mental transformation that truly stands out. Iโm happy now in a way I never thought was possible. My mental health and emotional well-being are in a good place. Iโve learned to take care of myself again and prioritise my happiness. While life still presents plenty of challenges, I now feel equipped with the strength and resilience to face them. I no longer feel overwhelmed or defeated by what comes my way. Instead, I approach life with a sense of hope, confidence, and peace.
Through Nera Luxury Candles, I want to use my story to raise awareness about addiction and show that recovery is possible, no matter how hopeless things may seem. My mission is to break down stigma, raise money for addiction services, and to create understanding, compassion, and change.
To anyone who feels lost or to those supporting someone who is: Please know that there is hope. Recovery is real, and it is worth it. Please reach out if you are struggling.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Ross
