Shropshire man turns troubled past into hope for others

A Shropshire man who spent more than 13 years in and out of prison is using his experience of addiction to help others turn their lives around.

Wes Dixon, 38, volunteers with Shropshire Recovery Partnership, delivered by WithYou, and hopes to move into a paid role supporting people affected by drug and alcohol problems.

Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, Wes began using cannabis at the age of nine and was arrested for the first time at 10. He stopped taking his medication as a teenager and said his life began to spiral.

“That's when I went downhill,” he said.

By the age of 18, he was using cocaine and had become homeless. He spent more than 13 years in and out of prison as his addiction continued.

The birth of his daughter became a turning point, prompting him to think about the future and the possibility of losing contact with his children.

After another spell in prison, he was referred for treatment by his probation officer. He was offered a place in a treatment service and went on to receive counselling and therapy, as well as support with housing and finding work.

Wes later relapsed following the deaths of close family members and lost care of his children. Recognising he needed help, he contacted the recovery partnership and completed a 14-day medical detox in 2023.

He has since been volunteering with the service, using his own experiences to support others.

“I've been there. I know how you feel,” he said.

Wes said volunteering had helped rebuild his confidence and given him a sense of purpose. He now hopes to work with schools to help young people understand the risks of addiction.

“Reach out. Don't be scared. It can be the difference between life and death,” he said.

Shropshire Recovery Partnership has bases in Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Ludlow, as well as clinics elsewhere across the county.

People can contact the service on 01743 294 700 or visit its website for support.