Meetings

Group Member Testimonials I started coming to the Spice, Cannabis and Legal high's group around a year ago. Although all these drugs have played a part in my battle over the years along with alcohol and prescription medication when I came to my first meeting, I couldn't stop using heroin and crack cocaine. My life had become a daily nightmare of finding money, scoring and using and nothing else. I was mentally exhausted and void of any emotion, a shell of a human being and only misery surrounding me. After attending for a little while and listening to the hope and encouragement of those in group who had managed to stop using and were now living happy productive lives, I managed to stabilise on my suboxone and stop using street drugs. Very shortly after I detoxed off the medication also and now live a life of abstinence of any mood-altering substance. It's only been possible with the input of groups like this, regular attendance and putting into action what was suggested. It's good for my recovery to keep coming to group for ongoing support and guidance but also to offer my experience to those who are just starting on their journey to a better life, free from addiction.

I came to the Cannabis, Spice and Legal Highs Group in August 2019 after being released from prison. Since then, I have regularly attended meeting and now provide support as an Admin team member. With encouragement from the group, I have been able to rebuild my life and put things in place to create a better future – from receiving my forklift licences to achieving level 1 and level 2 NVQs in adult health and social care. Before coming to the group, I was involved in crime to feed my addiction which resulted in me going to prison on more than one occasion. When I came out of prison in 2019, I decided I wanted to change my life and be clean from drugs. The Cannabis, Spice and Legal Highs group at The Vault was the first group I attended after my release which was on 9th August 2019. The members of the group showed me compassion and I found it really helped to listen to their stories because it made me feel less alone and gave me hope that I too could change my life. Today I have a placement within the recovery services at the needle exchange and am continuing to further my education by studying towards a Level 3 diploma at college. I have not touched drugs since I went back to prison on 30th May 2019. While it was prison that got me clean, it was the Cannabis, Spice and Legal Highs Group that kept me clean. Today I have a family, a life, and a reason to stay clean.

I joined the cannabis spice and legal high group at the beginning of April 2020, I had struggled with sustainability due to my cannabis addiction and excessive gambling, and when i became furloughed this became even more difficult. Since any previous attempts at controlling my habits had been unsuccessful, I came to the realization that I had to do something different. I was informed of the Cannabis Spice and Legal High Group and in my desperation, I decided it was worth attending, as my struggles could not get much worse. Since joining the group, I am proud to say I no longer use cannabis and I have also stopped gambling. The group offered me overwhelming support from the very first meeting I attended and taught me to be grateful for what I have, that I cannot change what I have done, but I can change what I do next. Continually attending meetings reminds me what they have helped me to achieve and is essential to my personal growth.

When I first came to the Cannabis, Spice & Legal High Group, I was 8 months clean from alcohol and a member of one of the traditional Fellowships. I had been doing well, however, after the meetings moved online as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, I started to feel a disconnect and realised that I needed to do something different if I was going to maintain my recovery. I had friends who regularly attended CSLHG meetings and were making positive changes in their lives as a result, so I was keen to learn more. Becoming a member of CSLHG has helped me reconnect with my recovery during a period in which I could have easily been knocked off track. The group is welcoming and non-intimidating, and members actively communicate with each other to problem solve, which helps to build bonds and trust and is why I believe the meetings have adapted so well to an online format. What I have been inspired by the most is the group’s holistic approach to recovery and its firm belief that everyone has the ability to create a better life for themselves.