An inspirational Scots dad who has been in recovery for nearly four years is hoping to help others after being reunited with his daughter and restoring family relationships.
Barry Murphy, from Glasgow, began using drugs at the age of 14 and by 16, he had become involved in gangs and was selling cocaine in the city's southside.
The 40-year-old spent various stints in prison but his addiction spiralled when he was stabbed at 26 and he suffered from PTSD.
Barry began using heroin and crack cocaine as he experienced homelessness for six years, in and out of hostels in the city and receiving support from Glasgow City Mission.
After a period in rehab and one year clean, he spiralled into despair when his relationship broke down and he started to use drugs again.
Barry said: "In 2019, I hit rock bottom. I tried to kill myself twice in one week and knew I couldn't go on like this.
"I contacted Davie Harper at Glasgow City Mission as I had spoken to him previously when I was in getting food and he told me he could get me into rehab.
"The rehab pathways team were brilliant and helped me get away to a Christian rehab called The Haven where I came to faith. I found the strength to go on.
"I spent a year there, then a year at Teen Challenge in England before returning to Glasgow in December 2021 and I started to work in the City Mission alongside Davie."
He added: "I think people need to hit rock bottom and realise they can't keep going on like this. For me, that was two suicide attempts. I knew I didn't have long left.
"My daughter was about 18 months when I stopped seeing her and I spiralled back into addiction. It was really hard but I knew if I kept doing the right thing then God would restore everything to me.
"My family never thought I'd sort myself out. I hadn't seen my daughter Abbie since October 2016 until three months ago. It has been amazing. I never thought I would see her again before I went into rehab."
Barry has now repaired relationships with his three siblings and parents after decades of struggling with addiction. His relationship with younger brother Thomas is the 'strongest it has ever been'.
He has started a new job at The Croft in Barlinnie Prison, supporting the family of inmates, while he studies Theology part time at WTC.
Barry is hoping to inspire other people struggling with addiction and help them find the courage to go on by sharing his story.
He is now on the board for a new ministry in North Lanarkshire called Aruka which will support people in addiction in North Lanarkshire, where the drug death rate is higher than the national average.
"Ask for help, there is people there who will help you," he said. "Reach out and don't give up on yourself. There is a way out - it is not beyond anyones capabilities.
"If people have the right support and help through, they can do it."
Aruka is hoping to plug the gap in a "significantly under resourced" area when it comes to addiction recovery support services and will be based at Motherwell Baptist Church.
One of the founders Andy McDougall said: "The need for recovery support services in Motherwell is very, very high.
"So many men and women are trapped in addiction and there is not a lot of support the towns and local areas, unlike the larger cities.
"I know from experience that the statutory services are chock-a-block. People are not getting the support that is necessary for recovery.
"They aren't really getting in-depth one-to-one support work and that is something we will be offering as well as group work and advocacy work."
A fundraising page has been set up to help Aruka provide addiction recovery services. Donations can be made by clicking here.
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