Bruno’s Story

"I started drinking when I was 10, when I used to hang around with guys from sports teams who were older. I continued to drink every now and then, mostly when we went away on sports trips. Then it probably got worse at about 13 or 14. I started drinking more and more and it became a fairly regular thing. At 14 or 15 I started drinking most weekends, probably a dozen on a Friday and Saturday. Then I got into trouble with the police, stealing, robbing houses, breaking into cars, fighting, tagging. Around 15 my drinking got worse - I was drinking 3 or 4 times a week, and then that gradually escalated to every day. I usually started at about 8 in the morning, finishing sometime the next morning. I found myself in more trouble, sometimes getting arrested twice a week. This ended up with numerous court fines to pay, and usually community service. I realise now it hurt my family causing my parents to almost split up. I regularly stole from my parents for money to buy alcohol and cannabis. I was wagging constantly from school and my grades went right down. I got put in all the dumb classes. Most of my friends were doing the same thing. I was sleeping rough for long periods of time, going to parties, fighting, smashing people and stealing from parties. I used all kinds of different drugs.

What changed? One of my friends suggested I go with him to WellTrust, as they gave him lunch! I met Darryl and Tim - WellTrust counsellors. They suggested that I come on the day programme which I did. I did that for nearly a year. It didn't help that much then as I wasn't motivated to change, but the support from Darryl and keeping in touch definitely helped me from getting worse and committing suicide. Someone else cared about me. I always kept in touch with WellTrust as it was a nice place to come, and when I did pop in, it kept me off alcohol for the day and I didn't use so many drugs. At 18 I got into big trouble with the police and faced serious charges. They said I had a drinking problem, which I had never really associated with being part of me before. So I went back to WellTrust as it was a friendly and familiar environment. My counsellor suggested I go to Hanmer Springs for residential treatment. I had just turned 18. Hanmer Springs was awesome and I loved it. Withdrawal symptoms weren't very nice though, I had the shakes, sweats, nightmares and I couldn't sleep. A nurse checked me every night. I was there for two months, during which time I met other addicts and listened to their stories. They told me not to end up like them. I got a lot out of the experience.

I left Hanmer Springs in December 2002, right in time for Christmas and New Year. I made the decision to travel to Whangamata and decided not to drink. I lasted until about Taupo before I started drinking where I was arrested. I was arrested about 10 times in space of a week, and I can't remember anything about that Christmas or New Year. I woke up at 3pm on 1 January 2003 and found a whole lot of bail bonds in my pocket and decided I'd had enough. I stopped drinking that day and haven't touched a drop of drink since.

It's been very hard, and I won't deny that it's not a daily battle. But as each day passes it becomes a little easier. I've taught myself how to deal with my emotions again, and not hide them through drink and drugs. You don't have to lose your friends as well; just don't do what they do. I still hang around with them, but I‘ve realised I don't need to do what they're doing to have fun. Life just gets better. I met a wonderful woman who helped me, and we got married in January this year. I still feel like a drink from time to time, but I now realise I have too much to lose, and I don't want to drink.

I suppose now I have options and things to look forward to and plan, and opportunities that I didn't have before. We want to travel, and later have a family. Life is good!"