"When I was around five years old, I was placed in care with my older sister Sarah, who was eleven at the time. This happened because my parents were experiencing significant difficulties related to alcohol and substance use. From a young age, my sister had taken on a caring role within our family.
Our first foster placement was challenging and at times frightening. There was a lot of conflict, and my sister and I were often shouted at, including for seeking comfort by sleeping in each other’s beds at night. I remember the environment feeling very strict and lacking warmth or safety. We were placed in care after my mother had been out drinking, and my sister and I were left without basic necessities, such as shoes. My mother was later charged with neglect.
When we returned home, the household felt unstable. There were many different adults coming in and out of the house, which led to me being sexually abused by a neighbour when I was nine years old. This traumatic event and the lack of stability in my childhood had a lasting impact on me.
My mum is now in recovery, and I am glad she has been able to access support. I just wish that help had been available sooner. When the harm I experienced at home stopped, I began to harm myself, and I have lived with addiction, or its effects, for all of my life."
