8:49am Wednesday 8th July 2009
By Sally Clifford
Jason Cresswell’s life today is in complete contrast from the chaotic existence he once had.
A photograph of a gaunt-looking, shaven-headed man stares out from the document Jason uses as an educational tool to illustrate to young people how the choices they make can affect their lives.
Today Jason looks healthy. He has regained his looks and his short hair is styled. You wouldn’t associate him with the person on the photograph until you hear about his experience. It’s something he shares with Bradford schoolchildren to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs, and try to prevent them from making the same mistakes.
Jason is very open about his own experience. He and other former addicts are using their stories in a positive way after tackling their addiction through Caleb, a Bradford-based drug and alcohol recovery programme.
Jason’s introduction to Caleb came through chatting to a woman on the steps of City Hall in Bradford. Jason was struggling with his addiction and the woman suggested he went to the Salvation Army. Through the organisation he found Caleb – and a new life free from the 17-year addiction which had dominated his existence.
February 2004 was a landmark for Jason – it was when he committed to recovery. Five years on, the father-of-three has honoured that commitment, raising awareness among young people about the dangers of drugs.
He started doing outreach work in 2004 and is now a substance misuse worker and training manager for Caleb. Jason works in schools and provides support to parents and other individuals. It was through his work in the Great Horton area that Councillor Joanne Dodds approached him to get involved with a youth event.
With the support of Matt Hannam, A+ extended schools manager for Great Horton, Bradford, Jason organised an educational event around drugs awareness at the Bradford Bulls’ Stadium in Odsal.
Focusing on Jason’s educational document, youngsters from Southmere, St Oswald’s, Hollingwood and Brackenhill primary schools were asked for their perception of the man in the photograph. Jason is accustomed to hard-hitting first impressions. He doesn’t squirm when he hears crackhead, burglar, criminal or loser mentioned.
He questions what choices they think the man made in his life. The youngsters often suggest that he is a drug-taker and involved in criminal activity. The message is hitting home and, hopefully, will prevent those youngsters from falling into similar circumstances. Jason is confident that using his experience in this way will help young people think carefully about the choices they make in future.
After revealing that the man in the image is actually him, Jason gives youngsters a glimpse into the impact drugs had on his life. The children are then encouraged to creatively interpret their choices with the help of Junior Jam, an expressive arts, media and sports provider, through workshops, street dance, drama, IT, music and poetry.
Jason is regularly moved to tears by letters he receives from pupils he talks to, and says the fact they have taken the trouble to write shows the impact his talk has had on them.
Through discussions he stresses that appearance is important in terms of how people are perceived. He impresses on pupils that they have to look after themselves. Self-esteem and confidence can affect the choices they make in life.
“I look at things that can help them feel better about themselves which is really important,” says Jason. “We have to try and equip our children to improve their self-esteem, self-worth, how they deal with relationships and how honest they are.”
Jason isn’t saying this is the sole solution, but he believes that if youngsters are more equipped to deal with issues in their lives, they are less likely to become embroiled in addictive behaviour.
He is concerned about the growing number of young binge drinkers. “So many children are using alcohol because they can’t cope with their lives,” says Jason.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show young drinkers aged 11 to 15 in England doubled their average weekly consumption of alcohol from 5.3 units in 1990 to 10.4 in 2004.
The proportion of children who drank increased with age, from four per cent of 11-year-olds to 45 per cent of 15-year-olds in 2004. Jason fears youngsters don’t see the potential dangers because drinking is deemed to be socially acceptable.
“Children see drugs as a dirty thing but alcohol is all right, and now we are paying the price for it,” says Jason.
Addiction, he says, needs to be recognised as a behavioural issue – drugs and alcohol are the symptoms.
“Every school I go into I say ‘what kind of choice do you think this guy will make?’ “They think he was robbing and stealing and I wasn’t. I came from a good home background, my parents love me. It was all about the little choices I made. Not engaging at school, not respecting my family, not understanding my home,” says Jason. “I just went with the flow and thought my father was out to spoil my fun when he was trying to love and protect me. My parents did the best they could.
“Now I sit and look at the photo and I can’t believe it. It is like that never happened. But it isn’t me now.”
For more about Caleb ring (01274) 720101 or visit calebbradford.org
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/trade_directory/