Paul's story

"I smoked my first joint at 11, by 16 I was smoking cannabis regularly. During college my life revolved largely around getting stoned every evening.

I couldn’t be bothered to work or continue training when I finished college; I just wanted to carry on getting high. By this time I was getting very depressed and often felt spaced out and very rough.

One evening I tipped over into a psychotic break. I didn't know what was happening at the time, but it was terrifying. After numerous arrests due to bizarre behavior, I ended up on a section. I spent around 4 months in a psychiatric hospital, mainly on a locked ward and was told that I had a drug induced psychosis.

What followed was eleven years of addiction problems and numerous stays in hospital. I kept smoking cannabis, but finally realised that my condition, whether or not being caused by pot, was definitely made worse by it.

I finally managed to stop smoking it and I've been off all drugs for over six years now.

I still take a low dose of a medication, but my problems and difficulties are a lot easier to deal with now that I have a straight head."