Introducing Peter ~ Our Founder

Change Is Possible

Motivational Quote!

Peter’s Story…

The vision for Better Way Recovery arrived after a phone call with the Police during the first lockdown. They asked if I would speak to someone in active addiction, something I had personally struggled with for almost 30 years. During that phone call something changed inside me. Deep down I knew that this was what I was meant to do. So that night I put pen to paper and wrote down what was in my head, and from it came a clear vision of what Better Way Recovery looked like.

My only problem was I didn’t have a clue how to get there and that’s how the trustee board was born. I met a lot of amazing, strong, inspirational people along my journey, and we have come together with the perfect combination of passion, drive and professionalism needed to make this happen and start helping others change their lives. Better Way Recovery’s purpose is extremely close to all the trustee’s hearts.

My journey was no different to any other. Addiction separated me from everyone! My world became smaller and smaller. In the end I was a shell of a man and had been stripped of all my self-respect. The majority of the 30 years I spent using drugs was also spent trying to stop using drugs. I tried everything to stop using, moving geographically, different jobs, relationships but all through it I couldn’t shake of the problem, I couldn’t stop using. Consequences of my addiction included time in prison, mental health institutes and many near death experiences. I mixed in circles I didn’t belong in, became an active criminal and drug dealer for many years, suffered traumatic events, hurt my family and friends, and it all culminating in me hating the person I had become. After a suicide attempt in 2016 I was sectioned and diagnosed with PTSD. After 2 months in that institution, I came out and still couldn’t stop using drugs. The Local drug service referred me to the local drug rehabilitation centre. It was the first time I had really asked for help and I will be eternally grateful for the help and support that they gave me. When I left there in 2017, I became involved in outreach work and spent a lot of time in the Lichfield district working alongside the Police and other agencies trying to help carry a message of hope to people just like me. That experience was the foundation for this Charity. It was obvious the need for more support was absolute.

Today I work a program of recovery. Part of that program is helping others. Getting clean is a massive achievement but ‘Staying Clean’ and living in recovery can be a difficult process. I spent years suppressing and avoiding feelings, doing anything I could to distract myself, most of the time with drugs.

We know how difficult and how real life can become in recovery, and the challenges that come along with that. That’s why our vision is to support people into a new way to live, getting them to where they want to be, being a constant through their ups and downs and using our own experiences and coping tools we’ve learnt along the way to help them through those tough times, letting them know that its going to be ok.

My world has changed completely. Today I have a loving relationship with my family and I have taken responsibility for my life, and I now know I could have never done this on my own. My goal, and everyone’s goal at Better Way Recovery is to give others the same opportunity we were given, the belief that change is possible for them too. I would like to thank every single person that has helped me and continues to help me on this beautiful journey called recovery.

Thank you

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