Adfam’s Family Voices Competition allows friends and family members who have lived through someone else’s substance use to express their thoughts and feelings in a creative and constructive way.
We would like to say a special thank you to everyone who entered this year. We received so many emotional and honest pieces of writing.
You can read the poems submitted by our two runner's up, Peter and Amanda below - and the winning entry from Hannah here.
'Angels and Demons: A Journey', by Peter
Part One
Could I possibly do anything more?
He’s losing the battle in a private war
Hitting the bottle at all times of day
He won’t listen to me or the words I say
I don’t recognise him, he’s not himself
In either his physical or mental health
The cronies in the bar are not real mates
He avoids me now, says it’s me he hates
I’m trying to help, I’m not trying to scare
He’s not the old person who used to care
But I will never ever give up the fight
To bring him back home to the light
Part Two
And now some healing time has passed
You’re on the road to recovery at last
When we get the chance, we go for a walk
The time allows us to connect and talk
You’re no longer consumed by self-pity
You smile and crack a joke that’s witty
You’re on a journey; one day at a time
I’m proud of you as I write this rhyme
You still have your demons as we all do
But now you have a changed point of view
The angels are singing to help your plight
'Life is Heaven-sent', by Amanda
You lie there barely breathing,
Unconscious of the world.
The ambulance is on its way
Because your life has swirled
To a staggering stop.
I know you sometimes feel some shame,
So I do not blame you, though I dread
That one day I will find you dead,
For you play a Russian roulette game,
Ignoring that you drop.
Still you take your drugs of choice,
Though your nine lives are spent.
I beg you, listen, for without,
Your inner voice is telling you
That life is heaven-sent.