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Victoria Derbyshire: 17/05/2011

17/05/2011

BBC Radio 5 Live - Victoria Derbyshire, 17/05/2011

How James, a drug addict at 26, turned his life around after the birth of his son.

James, a drug addict at 26, took heroin and crack each day. His girlfriend, also addicted, became pregnant. Victoria hears how this was the catalyst for him to turn his life round.

Victoria hears a tale of success against the odds. At 26, James was a drug addict - taking heroin and crack cocaine every day. His girlfriend Julie was also addicted to drugs when she became pregnant with their child, Leon, who was born prematurely in April 2007. He weighed just four pounds and was suffering withdrawal symptoms from the drugs his body had been exposed to in the womb. This was the catalyst for James to turn his life round and get off the drugs. 

Eight months later he was awarded full custody of Leon. He split up from his girlfriend - who was still taking drugs - and she later became pregnant with another man's baby. When she was imprisoned for a street robbery James applied to also bring up that child Sammy, who was Leon's half sister. After a twelve month long court battle he was finally awarded custody and has now turned his life around.

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17/05/2011

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