EXCLUSIVE: North Belfast mum calls for youth detox centre - 'Save The Next One'
A heartbroken North Belfast mother has called for a drugs detox centre specifically for young people in Northern Ireland.
Last updated 16th Apr 2018
Annie Davey spoke exclusively to Downtown/Cool FM as part of our Save The Next One campaign.
Her son Robert, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, became involved with drugs at the age of 12.
Just nine years later, aged 21, Robert is now addicted to heroin and is currently serving a prison sentence.
Annie said the struggle with her son's addiction has led to all sorts of difficulties for her and her family.
"Because of Robert's addiction and his anti-social behaviour, we were actually put out of our home under death threat," she said.
"Robert unfortunately at the moment is in prison and this is very hard for me as a mother to say, but nobody knows the relief that that is for me.
"I can go to my bed at night and know that he is safe."
Her son's addiction has also led to him experiencing mental health issues and in July of last year, those reached breaking point.
"He has had numerous attempts at taking his own life," she said.
"His father actually had to pull him off the bridge at Westlink on 4 July.
"He was driving the bus up Clifton Street and he happened to notice a figure going toward the bridge.
"He thought 'that looks very like my Robert', so as he got closer, he realised that it was Robert.
"So he just shouted 'Robert!' and Robert turned and looked him straight in the face and said 'I'm sorry Daddy....I have to do it.'
"Jim jumped off the bus and ran over and managed to stop him."
Annie now runs a resource for parents of young people addicted to drugs called the Reaching Out Action Support Group and said it has been invaluable in helping her and others.
"We're not counsellors, we don't have a list of qualifications," she said.
"What we do have is life experiences, of what it's like to live with the trauma and the stigma of having a child who is addicted.
"Every one of us in our group, we are grieving for a child we have lost.
"Maybe they're still breathing, I wouldn't even say living, because it's not that, it's just existing, day to day.
"But whenever you look in their wee eyes, they're blank."
Annie became emotional when asked about what she sees for Robert in his future, tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to explain her feelings.
She wants to see a specific detox centre for young people here, who are suffering with drug addiction.
"As I say, I grieve for him, because I don't think he has a future here," she said.
"There's a lot of young ones coming up here and this is the point of why we need this here and now.
"So that a few years down the line, parents don't need to be sitting like this, that their children will have the help and will have a future."
Annie is re-launching her support group on Friday,
If you wish to contact us to tell us your story of how drugs have impacted your life, you can do so by emailing news@downtown.co.uk or if you wish to seek help for addiction issues, more information can be found here.