27/04/2026
Here's another inspirational story from one of our Clients, Brett Marsland.
Brett joined us in September last year, and to say he has gone from strength to strength would be an understatement! Brett has engaged with our programme fantastically and is now enrolled on a Mental Health course at Calderdale College to gain more knowledge that will benefit him in the future. Well done Brett!
"Hi my name is Brett Marsland I’ve been in active addiction from an early age.
I had a normal upbringing; always had everything I needed but I never did any exams at school because I had a problem with one of my eyes. I had a lot of time off so I never got entered for them, so I started my drug use, having l*d and cannabis around 14 but I started riding motorbikes going to party’s and raves, taking party drugs, getting into trouble. I then started selling bikes for drugs and that introduced me to some guys 12 years older than me and one of them was smoking heroine, I was only 16 he was 28, and I thought it was what they all did. I didn't know what it was but I ended up having some, trying to fit in thinking I would be accepted but it was only the one guy that was using and I ended up addicted, so then I was having to do crime to fund my addiction and try to hide it from friends and family
I ended up going to prison, and I was in and out until I met my wife at the end of 2003 I think, I was working but I was drinking, partying and taking party drugs again so I dint see myself as an addict because everyone was doing the same.
It was a normal life, we had 3 beautiful kids, but I ended up after another 10 years just working and taking drugs at home, that ended up being crack. Our kids had to go live with my parents and I started using heroine again because I ended up homeless. There is loads in-between I haven't touched on but I just wanted to show how any drug can progress to hard drugs, because I thought i would never be that guy, homeless and on the streets with everyone turning their noses up at you.
So please try understand it can happen to the best of people we don't set out to become what people see as scum of the earth we are trying to survive the life we have with the hand we been dealt with because we have a disease of the brain that we cannot control.
When we introduce drugs, we had no idea of knowing that when we thought it was just a bit of fun.
But I never went back to prison again or commit crime, I managed to fund our use through working, but we ended up living in a caravan.
I heard about Alpha House and I felt drawn to what I was reading on their website, so I made a self-referral online, I didn't have to see a doctor or anything before and that was so helpful in itself.
I sent them my life story and how I’ve tried everything to get clean and stay clean, but I could never understand why I couldn't.
I was offered a place in Halifax and I took the chance and I'm so glad I did because I am 7 months 3 weeks clean and it’s the longest time in 34 years and it’s because of the group work I do every week that's educated me around all my drug use and why I use, this includes relapse prevention, and groups to help get me back to work.
You get certificates when you pass the exams, and I’m living in my own property, which teaches me to pay all my own bills and live independently again.
Because I passed the exams, I’m now at college 2 days a week doing a mental health course, I also do voluntary work on a Wednesday and my groups in alpha rest of the week.
We also participate in a 12 step fellowship program that we attend groups on a afternoon when we finish alpha for the day, and we can stay here for up to 2 years depending on how much help you need, it’s an amazing place! There are 50 lads at Alpha fighting for the same outcome, it’s an amazing community of lads and staff who all go out of their way to help each other.
So, I will be forever grateful to Alpha, the 12 step program and all the lads at Alpha because with a little help and understanding and some education around my addiction, I’m finally living a drug free life that I’ve been trying to have for years, so thanks Alpha!"
