'Life-saving' drugs and alcohol service Forward Leeds celebrates landmark anniversary

A Leeds actor has told how a city drugs and alcohol service which is celebrating a landmark anniversary brought him back from the brink of self-destruction when a 20-year battle with alcohol reached its peak.

Nick Davis, who works as a supporting artist in television and film, has just marked 500 days sober after support from Forward Leeds changed his life.

The drugs and alcohol service,which has had an “immeasurable” impact in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Yorkshire’s biggest city, is this month marking five years in operation.

Mr Davis said he'd reached rock bottom and was “drinking 24 hours a day” in February last year.

Staff at Forward Leeds in Armley. Picture: Forward Leeds

He had taken part in detox and counselling at Forward Leeds in the past, but had relapsed after the break up of his marriage and was “drinking 24 hours a day”.

Mr Davis, from Weetwood, told the Yorkshire Post: “It was my last chance. My GP said to me, ‘the next time I see you, I don’t want to be writing out your death certificate’”.

He went into a detox treatment programme, and while waiting for a place at rehab, which began in April, immersed himself in all the support Forward Leeds could offer - and he hasn’t had a drink since.

“I was embarrassed, and worried about going back with my tail between my legs and the team thinking I’d let them down because they’d helped me before, but they accepted me with such warmth and never treated me like a failure,” he said. “Without a doubt, without them, I wouldn’t be here now.”