Drug and alcohol support - Darren's story

Watch Darren's video to see how he felt ashamed being gay growing up and how he battled with drug and alcohol addiction to deal with his emotions. See how we helped him.

Darren's video transcript

[Title card] Kent County Council Alcohol and Drug Support - Darren's story.

[Darren enters the room and sits down on the chair in front of the camera in an office. He sits down looking serious.]

Darren:"The shame and stigma of being gay and not being able to deal with that really took its toll. I felt ashamed of who I was. So the drink numbed everything.

"I can't really pinpoint t he time where it changed from fun into a need. Over the course of the next 23 years, the alcohol and drugs just increased and increased and increased."

[Darren appears upset with tears in his eyes]

He continues: "Walking in that door as the hardest thing, because I couldn't imagine my life without numbing all those thoughts and feelings. I couldn't imagine how I was going to live, how I'd get to a level of self-acceptance that I didn't need the drink and drugs.

"Walking into a service that you had basically no idea what they were offering, what they were doing yeah it was scary. But the moment I walked in the door, I was greeted by a big smiley, friendly face on reception.

[Video changes to Darren in a group environment talking  and laughing with others]

[Darren narrates] "And for the first time in my adult life, I felt listened to, I felt heard. I felt understood in a non-judgemental way, in a caring way."

[Video takes you back to Darren in the original chair, with now a smile on his face]

Darren: "I spilled everything. This is what I needed to do to get better. And I've not looked back.".

[End card] For more information visit kent.gov.uk/alcohol-and-drug-support