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Transcription of handwritten letter deleting names and contacts.
Dear Mr Dorey
I write to you in despair after our conversation on the telephone.
I am a mother of five children; my youngest is adopted after my niece committed suicide, also an addict who received very little help.
My eldest son **** is going to be 23 next month and is a heroin addict plus every else he can get his hands on. He has been in and out of prison since he was seventeen and spent his last three or four birthdays locked up.
Last year he was let out on tag – nobody contacted me or confirmed any dates or even asked if I was home. I got home from work to find Securicor had set up the tagging system, the thing that upset me the most was I could have been off the Island anything could have happened to him. He came on overnight stays and I only found out from other people telling me he was out – yet he was meant to be in my care.
Last November he was released from Prison after 18months and we found it he had Hep C from sharing dirty needles in La Moye. On many occasions although against the grain I left money in our prisoners accounts because **** was in debt for heroin and as I mother I didn't want my son hurt. I saw one friend of his badly beaten up there. They are pushed out here, no help with finding work, no back up – nothing, with no work it doesn't take long for the old friends to creep back into their lives.
Drugs and Alcohol are Text Book knowledge they get paid a lot and haven't got a clue – I am a recovering addict and have been clean for nearly 14 years. I know where these young people are coming from – if they were diabetics they would receive help - instead people look down on them.
My daughter is 24 yrs old and her addiction is alcohol – she was raped a few years ago and has self harmed since. She is a lovely girl, she was in Midvale Road halfway House, she fell out of a window last summer and had to be sent to Southampton with a bad back injury – after discovering she was pregnant had to have a termination, I phoned a begged them not to put her out. That she needed support and help – they put her in James Street Shelter, now my beautiful sweet daughter drinks in Green Street Graveyard with the rest of the shelter people. This is caring Jersey with all the open top sports cars & finance. These young people are our future and nobody gives a damn about them.
My youngest son – Thank God has found AA and NA, but on his own – only with help from me & his father again no back up from anyone else.
Yesterday my eldest Boy was ready to go in Silkworth Lodge, they were fantastic with him – But we need Drugs and Alcohol to fund him typical – no appointment till next week. Then their decision on my son's life. I drove to Drugs and Alcohol with him and begged for help, everyone was in a meeting, but someone was supposed to phone me back yesterday. I am still waiting; my son was so desperate, now I don't know where he is.
I thank God that someone is showing an interest. Thank you Mr Dorey
I would like to add that the actual Prison Ward ens were fantastic and think very highly of my sons but they can't do anything once they are released.
I cannot have my daughter home because of her self harming and the little adopted daughter I have to protect her.
How many more of our young people do we have to bury. My mother was an addict she killed herself when I was 20 yrs my brother also killed himself a year later, my father died of alcoholism and two of my sisters daughters were addicts and also committed suicide. I adopted my niece's 15 month old baby – five children were left without their mothers. If anything happens to my son or daughter – this caring island. I have another son fighting for his country in the army-
Please someone Help Us Mothers
I look at all the young ones hanging around Snow Hill and Liberation Square – where is there for them to go. They knocked down West Park for more flats – that we don't need.
NOTE: Her son was later offered funding for a place at Silkworth Lodge but, as he was on a Methadone and Valium programme, he was unable to stay there and had to leave after just a day or two. He had to wait a further six weeks before he could get another appointment at Alcohol and Drug Service.
Subsequent Letter
Sadly *** started using again last week it was just to difficult for him out here amongst all the so called friends he has.
As you can imagine life has been a nightmare, I found used syringes, swabs etc, I have had to have locks put on all the doors.
**** wanted help so very much, and to be told to wait until September and get antidepressants!!
I am so very hurt to watch my beautiful son again, to see his arms full of needle marks and his lovely blue eyes all black again.
Do I have to loose my son like XXXX did, before somebody cares in this dump.
I felt so grateful to know that you Jerry care, this is such a lonely and desperate place to be.