A former cocaine addict wants to inspire Fife users to quit by revealing his tough road to recovery.
The man, who did not wish to reveal his identity, believes the new Cocaine Anonymous Scotland meetings, based in Kirkcaldy, could help addicts to stop using once and for all.
The initiative comes after National Crime Agency officers revealed on Thursday that they seized more than £500 million of cocaine from a ship off the coast of Aberdeen thought to be the UK’s largest ever haul.
“Cocaine addiction is a big problem all over Scotland but these meetings can change the life of users,” the speaker said.
“They definitely changed my life. It was the first place I could talk properly about my substance abuse without fear of being judged or criticised.
“I was addicted to cocaine and other mind-altering substances and used it to escape reality but in truth, the damage it did to me was unbelievable.
“When I was in the full grips of my addiction I was no longer a functioning member of society. Over time my addiction led me to living in isolation from my family.
“I would deliberately shut them out, not wanting them to interfere but they could see I was in big trouble. I couldn’t see that I was being controlled by the illness of addiction.
“Every minute of every day I was living in abject misery. I wanted to stop but I couldn’t. I couldn’t understand what was causing me to use every day.”
The speaker said joining CA Scotland had transformed his life.
He added: “I’ve been clean for a number of years now and it’s all thanks to everything I learned from the 12-step recovery programme.
“The therapy is all about hearing the issues other people have gone through to gain a greater sense of understanding and identification.
“Addicts come from all backgrounds from wealthy businessmen to those who can’t afford a packet of cigarettes.
“It doesn’t matter how much you take, the disease of addiction can affect anyone.
“Everyone is welcome and I just hope by speaking out this reaches someone and they take the first step to changing their lives for the better by going along to one of the meetings.
“If I can do it, others can too they just need to take that first step.”
Cocaine Anonymous Scotland hold meetings in St Bryce Kirk in Kirkcaldy every Wednesday from 7.30 until 9pm.
For more information visit www.cascotland.org.uk.