Rachel’s Story

I first came into Ashleigh House in August. I came from the Dochás Centre. I had a bad problem with heroin and sleeping tablets. I was serving three years in the Dóchas Centre for crimes I had done during my addiction. The probation officer told me about Ashleigh House, the women’s programme at Coolmine, and asked me if I would be interested in it.

At the time, I wasn’t ready to give up drugs but I would of done anything to get out of prison. So in August, Ashleigh House took me in and I lasted five days and then went out and took heroin. I only lasted one day out and was brought back to the prison. When I was back inside, it took me a couple of days to realise what I had done, reality started to hit me badly. I went back into the probation officer and asked if there was a chance to go back to Ashleigh House for treatment.

The answer was that there was a chance that I could go back as they could see I was interested. I was told that it would take around six weeks and that my urine samples would have to be clean of drugs during that time, so that they would know I was really committed to the programme. It was a long and hard six weeks. Drugs were getting thrown at me in prison, but I refused them all the time. Eventually the six weeks were up and I had done it; on the 7th of September I was taken back to Ashleigh House.

At first I thought it was hard opening up my feelings and thoughts to people about the stuff I had done and my addiction – the embarrassment, the shame, the guilt. After a while, I realised I wasn’t the only one who went through it. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my behaviours.