Ex-drug addict from Aberdare apponited sergeant in army
Gareth Jones, 35, from Aberdare spent 10 years of his life addicted to drugs.
At the height of his usage, Gareth was 'totally dependent' and abusing drugs daily.
Now he's transformed his life and runs a mental health page called Mental Health Wanderer, is part of the military and runs ultramarathons in his spare time.
Gareth Jones ex drug addict turned military sergeant (Image: Gareth Jones) Speaking of his journey Gareth said: 'I was a drug user from the age of 14 and for the best part of ten years.
'I started on Cannabis then the addiction grew to taking pills and Cocaine on the weekend the weekend turned into four-day weekends and then I was totally dependent.'
Soon drugs had become Gareth's new 'normal.'
He told the Argus 'It got to the point where I was dependent on the drugs but still had a life.
'Everyone was clueless as to how bad my addiction was and when I was clean people would think I was on drugs because they'd never seen me clean.'
Gareth Jones ex drug addict in his military uniform (Image: Gareth Jones) For Gareth his wakeup call came when he was arrested by the police.
He said: 'I got arrested for suspected attempted murder. I was sitting in my nans garden, and the police arrested me.
'I spent 18 hours in the cell and that was the first time I had suicidal thoughts sitting with a microwavable meal and a spork in the cell.
'That was my wakeup call I was petrified of going to prison.'
Having hit rock bottom, Gareth was inspired to start anew and in 2015 he joined the military.
He said: 'My life flashed before my eyes and then I had this goal and vision to join the military.
'I did end up doing it I went cold turkey buying the drugs and flushing them down the toilet.
'I was smoking weed up until I joined the army and now, I've been on this crazy adventure.'
Gareth Jones running an ultramarathon (Image: Gareth Jones) Currently, Gareth is a member of the Army Air Corps, alongside this he manages a mental health Facebook page and service called Mental Health Wanderer.
Gareth's account has a following of 20,000 followers. He started Mental Health Wanderer back in 2020 after completing a month-long running challenge in the space of two days.
Since then, he's completed large feats including a run from North Wales to Aberdare and The Snowdonia 100 Mile Ultra.
On June 4 he received the news he was going to be promoted from corporal to sergeant.
Speaking of overcoming addiction Gareth said: 'I run the account to show people who are struggling like I was you can make something of yourselves life isn't just over because you're a drug user.
'I'm grateful to my kids and wife and everyone that's supported me over the last couple of years because without them I couldn't have done this.'
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South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Ex-drug addict from Aberdare apponited sergeant in army
Gareth Jones, 35, from Aberdare spent 10 years of his life addicted to drugs. At the height of his usage, Gareth was 'totally dependent' and abusing drugs daily. Now he's transformed his life and runs a mental health page called Mental Health Wanderer, is part of the military and runs ultramarathons in his spare time. Gareth Jones ex drug addict turned military sergeant (Image: Gareth Jones) Speaking of his journey Gareth said: 'I was a drug user from the age of 14 and for the best part of ten years. 'I started on Cannabis then the addiction grew to taking pills and Cocaine on the weekend the weekend turned into four-day weekends and then I was totally dependent.' Soon drugs had become Gareth's new 'normal.' He told the Argus 'It got to the point where I was dependent on the drugs but still had a life. 'Everyone was clueless as to how bad my addiction was and when I was clean people would think I was on drugs because they'd never seen me clean.' Gareth Jones ex drug addict in his military uniform (Image: Gareth Jones) For Gareth his wakeup call came when he was arrested by the police. He said: 'I got arrested for suspected attempted murder. I was sitting in my nans garden, and the police arrested me. 'I spent 18 hours in the cell and that was the first time I had suicidal thoughts sitting with a microwavable meal and a spork in the cell. 'That was my wakeup call I was petrified of going to prison.' Having hit rock bottom, Gareth was inspired to start anew and in 2015 he joined the military. He said: 'My life flashed before my eyes and then I had this goal and vision to join the military. 'I did end up doing it I went cold turkey buying the drugs and flushing them down the toilet. 'I was smoking weed up until I joined the army and now, I've been on this crazy adventure.' Gareth Jones running an ultramarathon (Image: Gareth Jones) Currently, Gareth is a member of the Army Air Corps, alongside this he manages a mental health Facebook page and service called Mental Health Wanderer. Gareth's account has a following of 20,000 followers. He started Mental Health Wanderer back in 2020 after completing a month-long running challenge in the space of two days. Since then, he's completed large feats including a run from North Wales to Aberdare and The Snowdonia 100 Mile Ultra. On June 4 he received the news he was going to be promoted from corporal to sergeant. Speaking of overcoming addiction Gareth said: 'I run the account to show people who are struggling like I was you can make something of yourselves life isn't just over because you're a drug user. 'I'm grateful to my kids and wife and everyone that's supported me over the last couple of years because without them I couldn't have done this.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
It's high time Britain had another conversation about cannabis
The findings of the London Drugs Commission are welcome after a decade or more of static drug policy in the UK (Worried about weed: should London follow New York and decriminalise cannabis?, 31 May). While the report focuses on London, the suggestions resonate across the UK and beyond. Cannabis was reclassified from class B to class C in 2004, reducing the penalties for possession, after the home secretary (David Blunkett) took the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Unfortunately, the Labour government asked the council to reconsider its advice based on protests about the risks of cannabis to health. The council, headed by Sir Michael Rawlins, confirmed its advice that the drug should stay in class C. The government disagreed this time and returned it to class B. Police Scotland some years ago announced that it would concentrate on more serious issues and reduce attention on simple possession-of-cannabis offences. Returning the drug to a class with a lower sentencing tariff clearly makes sense. The requirements for a functioning education and health service regarding drug use and addiction are clearly the next target and at present it is hard to identify anything but inadequate provision in primary or specialist services. Scotland is innovating in the establishment of a safer injecting room and a heroin assisted-treatment programme in Glasgow, but across the addiction field progress is slow. The commission didn't recommend legislation but without a national approach progress in addiction policy is fragmented and RobertsonProfessor of addiction medicine, University of Edinburgh Your article about decriminalising cannabis in London doesn't take into account the impact on people who don't want the smell of weed all around them. I've recently been on a short break to New York, which was marred by the inescapable smell of weed everywhere. It was in the streets, the shop doorways and even permeated the shops and restaurants as people smoked their joints outside. It's bad enough that we have to breathe in the sickly smell of vapes on the street without having to endure the pungent odour of pot everywhere. This is more than an issue about not prosecuting people for drug use, it's a quality-of-life issue for everyone. If it's decriminalised in London, the rest of the country is sure to follow Ludlow MooneyBacup, Lancashire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Benwell explosion: Reece Galbraith's sentence reviewed
A man whose illegal cannabis factory exploded in a block of flats, killing a seven-year-old boy, is to have his 14-year jail sentence reviewed amid concerns it is too York died when the blast caused by Reece Galbraith, 33, destroyed several homes in Benwell, Newcastle, last Newcastle Crown Court, Galbraith, of Gateshead, admitted two counts of manslaughter which also killed 35-year-old James Attorney General's Office confirmed it had received a request to consider his jail term under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme (ULS) and said a decision on whether to send it to the Court of Appeal "will be made in due course". Anyone can ask for a sentence to be reviewed, according to the courts service, and they do not have to have been involved in a certain types can be reviewed including murder, manslaughter, rape and serious drug offences. The explosion stemmed from a build-up of butane created in the process of making drug-infused sweets in one of the flats by Galbraith and Mr pair were using a ground-floor flat in the block of 12 homes on Violet Close to make the so-called cannabis shatter, the court as a "sophisticated" factory, it exploded at about 00:40 BST on 16 who lived upstairs with his parents and baby brother, had been asleep in the family's living mother, Katherine Errington, and seven-week-old brother, Finlay, were buried beneath bricks and debris and were pulled to safety by Archie's father, Robbie York. 'You killed my son' Ms Errington told the court her son's death had "broken us in ways I didn't know possible" and the family had "lost everything", adding she felt "survivor's guilt".She angrily told Galbraith he "took risks for profit" before screaming at him: "You killed my son."In a statement read to the court, Mr York said he felt "nothing but anger" towards Galbraith and Mr Laws, adding he had "no sympathy" for the latter's of Rectory Road, was found in the wreckage covered in severe burns and spent a month in a coma in well as the manslaughter charges, he pleaded guilty to producing and selling cannabis. The block of properties was later demolished, with dozens of people losing their homes and and costs to Newcastle City Council was valued at £3.7m, with 81 adults and 59 children from 51 homes displaced and 10 households having to be permanently rehoused. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
