Abs’ Story

Abs walks confidently into the lounge at New Oakwood Lodge Residential Service. It is a hot day and, as we settle into conversation, he tells me it is his birthday. He is celebrating his 35th year and seems genuinely happy.

That positive energy is one of the first things you notice about Abs. He has a huge personality and an infectious enthusiasm. As he begins to tell his story, it quickly becomes clear that he has lived an extraordinary life. Full of ambition, adventure, success, addiction, prison, homelessness and ultimately recovery, his journey has been anything but ordinary.

Abs accessed residential treatment through the Rough Sleeper Pathway, a short-term drug strategy-funded programme providing direct access to rehab for people sleeping rough or at risk of doing so.

"I've always thought big," he says. "I'm outgoing, motivated and open-minded. I've travelled to places like Thailand, Madagascar and Dubai. I think I could be a motivational speaker one day."

Born in Somalia, Abs moved to London as a young child. After getting into trouble at school, his father sent him back to Somalia as a teenager to reconnect with his heritage.

"I was there for about three and a half years. I got a job as a translator and was earning money. Then my dad brought me back."

Returning to England was difficult. Having missed years of education, he struggled to settle and eventually moved out with little support.

"I wanted to make things work, but it was hard. Sometimes I had no money and no food."

Not long afterwards, he became involved in offending, leading to repeated prison sentences.

"In total I spent about eight and a half years in prison."

Between sentences, Abs began selling drugs. What started with cannabis quickly escalated.

"I started with weed, then moved on to heroin and crack. Eventually I had people working for me. Because I always think big, it took off."

At the time, it felt like success.

"I had new clothes, cars, holidays. I thought I was living the dream."

But behind the lifestyle was chaos.

"I was caught up in the fast life. Full of ego and identity. I thought I was proving a point."

Although he was surrounded by drugs, his own substance use was initially limited. That changed when he tried crack cocaine.

"I got a high and that was that."

For years his crack use remained in the background, but after being made redundant it began to take over his life.

"I started smoking more regularly. I was embarrassed. I didn't want anybody to know."

His long-term relationship eventually broke down after his partner discovered his drug use.

"When my girlfriend found out, I left. I'd put all my eggs in one basket with that relationship. Suddenly I had no home."

He found himself sleeping in his car and staying wherever he could. He later moved into a hostel, but addiction continued to dominate his life.

"I was right in the thick of it."

By January he had reached crisis point.

"I wasn't sleeping. I was smoking crack for days on end."

Following drug-induced psychosis, Abs was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Looking back, he sees this as a turning point.

"Straight away I knew I needed rehab. Seeing someone once a week in a community service wasn't going to be enough. I needed intensive, structured support."

Previously he had been told residential treatment was unlikely to be available, but a worker from RHEST believed in him and successfully advocated for funding.

"A few weeks later she called with the news I'd been hoping for."

After completing a detox at Mildmay Hospital, Abs moved directly into New Oakwood Lodge.

Since arriving, rehab has given him something he desperately needed: time and space to focus on himself.

"I've had time to reflect on my life and process things from the past. I needed physical and mental space away from the people, places and drugs."

For Abs, recovery has been about far more than stopping substance use.

"Being here has allowed me to process trauma and understand why I was using. When you're out there using every day, you don't have the headspace to think about what's really going on."

The structure of daily life, support from staff and living alongside others in recovery have all helped.

"The staff are lovely and the place is nice. Recovery isn't always easy when you're living with lots of different people, but you learn a lot about yourself."

Most importantly, rehab has allowed him to reflect honestly on the impact of his choices.

"I've had to face some hard truths. Taking responsibility is empowering because it means I can make different choices now. My using wasn’t a choice when I was deep in it, but now I get to decide"

The pride he feels in his recovery is obvious.

"I'm extremely proud of myself."

He repeats the phrase several times throughout our conversation.

"I'm doing it for me."

Seeing others rebuild their lives has inspired him.

"You see people leave here, volunteer, rebuild their lives and stay away from old influences. It shows that it can be done."

Spending time with Abs was a genuine pleasure. His honesty, self-awareness and determination to change were both humbling and inspiring. As he continues his recovery journey, he does so with clear goals, renewed confidence and a belief that his future can be very different from his past.