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A former drug and drink abuser who turned his life around has told how he spiralled into a dark world... then dragged himself back up.

Andrew Sullivan grew up in Rochester and attended the King’s School. He was drawn to recreational drugs and spent most of his 20s smoking marijuana or taking cocaine.

“Later on in life, alcohol became the most prominent and that was at a time when everyone seemed like they were having fun but I hadn’t crossed the line into dependency at that point,” he said.

“I can look back over my life as I have done in great detail now and know that I crossed the line from heavy recreational user to compulsive, obsessive addict”.

Mr Sullivan’s marriage broke down, he lost touch with his children and he was fired from numerous jobs, because of his alcohol dependencies.

“The consequences of my addictions had really taken its toll and I hit my rock bottom in September 2014,” he said. “I entered into a world I never knew existed so that was where the journey for me started.”

He then made the decision to attempt to take his own life, after years of pain and struggles.

“My mind would be obsessing about using, drinking, finding ways and means to do that, trying to get money and it was just a horrible way to live”.

The 40-year-old decided to start writing and slowly documented his emotions, which later turned into a book titled A Year Without Substances.

It details his experiences of the highs, the lows, the breakthroughs and the setbacks from day one of his recovery, right through the first year.

“The day I entered into the treatment centre, I immediately started making connections with people that I didn’t know and they were all coming over, introducing themselves and it was a very surreal” he said.

Slowly Mr Sullivan turned his life around and although he is still in his recovery, he is now able to talk about his experiences and help others.

"The real benefit is the serenity and the peace and the moments that you have living in the moment" - Andrew Sullivan

“One of the biggest symptoms of addictions is the feeling of being alone and the feeling that no one will be able to understand what’s going on in your head; I felt very much like that, like I couldn’t be cured.

“But life is so much better now, the real benefit is the serenity and the peace and the moments that you have living in the moment, living in today, and they’re priceless.

Mr Sullivan, who used to live in Loose near Maidstone, knows there is still a long road ahead. “If I could pass on one message it’s that it’s OK to get vulnerable, to get weak because there’s strength in showing that vulnerability.

“There are so many people that can help you, just in your area who will give you a way to clear the clutter in your mind and get yourself better.”

For more information, visit Andrew Sullivan's web page.