Blue Triangle currently runs four Intensive Peer Recovery Support services (IPRS) in Argyll & Bute, South Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire. ROOTS is based in Ayr, supporting people in the community to sustain their own tenancies and access recovery services.
ROOTS was alerted to an individual called Ben, as there were serious concerns raised about his immediate safety in his own tenancy within Ayr. IPRS Worker Jim met Ben alongside his support workers from addiction services and criminal justice. Ben disclosed that someone he knew had arrived at his home and claimed he and his partner were fleeing local drug dealers and needed a safe place to stay for a night until they could move away from the area in the next few days. Ben agreed; however, around 3 am, he was awoken by banging and loud voices and witnessed both individuals injecting drugs. Ben asked them to stop, as he was trying to stay away from heroin himself and felt disrespected in his own home. The situation escalated: Ben was assaulted, threatened not to call police, the couple took over the property and began selling drugs from there. Ben was coerced into taking drugs; his bank card was stolen and items from his flat were sold by the couple. He was humiliated and made to sleep in a small room where he was locked in. Other people using the flat were also active in prostitution.
After learning about the situation, the IPRS Worker ensured Ben was safe in local Blue Triangle supported accommodation and encouraged him to report the couple to the police. Jim supported Ben three times a week, providing one-to-one help—such as helping him attend addiction service appointments. Blue Triangle worked with the local council to secure Ben’s old flat so he could return and retrieve his belongings. In the following months, Ben maintained his methadone prescription and attended all appointments. The ROOTS service supported him for over 150 hours, helping him rebuild relationships with his parents and gain visiting access to his daughter.
Ben is now waiting for his new home and has been four months opiate free. As Ben said:
“The wee things really matter. Getting up in the morning and spending time with my family and not being handcuffed to a chemist is the best thing that’s happened in ages.”
He is awaiting his own home and says he is now ready to start “living a life.”
