Cameron credit support to help overcome addictions

Cameron credit support to help overcome addictions

15 October 2025

A DOWNPATRICK man has shared details of his battle to recover from addiction.

Cameron Taylor is encouraging others to take the first step towards recovery.

Last Friday was World Mental Health Day and Cameron — who got involved in substance abuse — said there was a way forward for those struggling with addiction.

He credits his break away from a world that took a grip on his life to the South Eastern Trust’s addictions team based at Bernagh House in Downpatrick and the time he spent at the highly acclaimed Ward 15 addictions unit located next door at the Downshire Hospital estate.

Cameron said getting involved in 

addiction was a “choice” at the start when out with friends and chose to take substances.

After a while, it was no longer a choice and got “caught in the rabbit hole”.

Crediting the addictions staff for his recovery, Cameron said they continue to provide him with support.

Almost two years sober, Cameron has shared how there were times in his battle against addiction when he “couldn’t have even gone two hours sober and was just chasing the high”.

His substance abuse began in third and fourth year at school and was a way of “fitting in” which created a period of spiralling escalation.

“I was going out at the weekends and not coming home until Sunday,” he said.

“Where it started becoming a problem was being in denial. There were people around me, loving people, that were saying that I had a problem.

“There is only so many times you can get caught up in your own lies before you realise you do need to get yourself sorted.”

Cameron shared how it was the “fear” of losing the close relationship with his wife that led him to sign into Ward 15 to seek help.

“I wasn’t the best person at that time,” he said. “I got kicked out after day three of being on the ward for being volatile. But I did put the head down and I did what needed to be done.”

Cameron said that following his time in Ward 15 he attended addiction meetings.

“I got a new phone number, took away those people that I was hanging about with and at the end of this month I will going to Ward 15 to give my third speech to help others by sharing my story – it is such a big change for myself.”

Cameron praised the support he received and continues to benefit with from South Eastern Trust’s addiction team peer support worker Mark Sharkey-Greenhalgh, who is a recovering addict of 20 plus years.

“I take my hat off to Mark,” he said. “He is the type of person who’d do anything for you.

“I hadn’t been attending the meetings for about a month after we had a wee baby and Mark called to my house to check on me.

“That’s the type of people who are in the community. They have your best interests at heart.”

Cameron’s advice to those who are struggling or working towards their recovery goals is “put one foot in the door”.

He added:  “I never wanted to go to the meetings because I thought I could do it all by myself. Until I stepped 

into those meetings, I really took a step back and opened up my life to better things.”