Drug and alcohol support - Sam's story

Watch Sam's video to see how her two alcoholic parents shaped her views on drinking and affected her relationship with her kids. Find out how she is working to repair those relationships.

Sam's video transcript

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

[Sam enters the room and sits down on the chair in front of the camera in an office. She sits down smiling.]

Sam: "I grew up with two alcoholic parents. So alcohol, it was all I knew from a child and life was extremely hectic.

"My first drink, I acted different to everybody else who was drinking, it affected me more. I didn't see it then, but now looking back, I could see from the first drink I picked up it was a problem. I have now been sober for just coming up to a year.

"My relationship with my children has gone strength to strength. I see weekly. The thing that's helped me change the most is to realise that it's an illness.

"It isn't because I'm not a nice person and I'm not a good mum, it's that I'm ill. Don't feel ashamed because it's true when they say it's okay not to be okay, and you're not alone. You're really not. I thought I was so alone. I thought I was the only one in the world that felt like this.

[Video changes to Sam in a group environment talking to others]

[Sam narrates] "There is a service and there is meetings and there is other people that feel the way you do.

[Video takes you back to Sam in the original chair]

Sam: "And if you get knocked down on your first time of asking for help, just keep on asking to get what you want and what you need, and realise that you're not alone. You're not at all alone.".

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