Leigham's Story

In his own words, Leigham says that “growing up was all good. I had things provided for me, my family loved me and they wanted me to go in the right direction.” He is certain that he was led to substance-use through rebellion; wanting to be different sent him on a downward trajectory of drinking and surrounding himself with people who encouraged his destructive behaviour.

After years of stress and anxiety for his family, Leigham’s relationship with his mum and stepdad began to breakdown. Ignoring his mum’s pleas to change, Leigham was eventually asked to leave home, so he moved in with his dad, but “what [he] mistook for freedom was him not really being there for [Leigham].”

It’s difficult for Leigham to pinpoint exactly when he started drinking, but he remembers it escalating quickly at his dad’s house due to the lack of boundaries and structure. With everyone around him fuelled by drink and drugs, he fell into an ‘I don’t care’ sort of attitude”, as he put it Soon the relationship with his dad also fell apart, his dad moving out without giving Leigham a second thought.

As a volunteer, Leigham discovered that having structure and a sense of purpose helped him avoid relapse. Now a Night Support Worker, Leigham did what he thought was impossible. “I’m able to draw on my personal recovery journey to shape the support I offer others who are going through similar challenges with addiction and mental health.”

Leigham is already enjoying being part of other people’s recovery journeys, he gets a sense of purpose in trying to intervene in the destruction of substance misuse. Part of his role involves updating records and having “open, honest and willing conversations with people.”

“P3 saw in me things that I didn’t recognise in myself – things that were valuable for helping other people. There’s a lot of learning at P3, whether you’re being supported or you’re a member of staff. You learn resilience, you learn patience. There’s so much to learn and to teach other people.”

Now sober for two years, Leigham reflects on one of the most daunting moments of his recovery: nearly turning down the opportunity of being the best man at a friend’s wedding due to the pressure and temptation to drink around others. Surrounded by people drinking socially, he feared the environment might trigger a relapse, but thanks to the resilience he’s built – and the ongoing community support around him – Leigham was able to navigate the day and celebrate without compromise.

“P3 and my meetings taught me to always have a back-up plan: someone to call, somewhere to go or something to do if it all becomes too much.”

Now an active member of his community, Leigham is taking life one step at a time: “I’m still learning about myself. I will always be learning.” Looking ahead, he hopes to travel more and continue working for P3, exploring where life takes him as a sober individual.

With a cheeky grin, Leigham adds,”I want to keep on laughing because I never laughed before, and now I can’t get enough!”

His parting advice: “Trust what other people are telling you. I know it’s hard to believe, but if it’s coming from more than two people, there is something there. Stay open and go to that meeting.”