Tam Wright said he ruined his life after placing a bet on four horses and winning £89.
The 67-year-old said: “One of the people I used to work with asked if I wanted to pick a betting line one day.
“I selected four horses, won £89, and that was me. I got paid on Friday, and all my money would be gone on the same day. I told lies and wasted my money. It controls you. It was a horrendous time.”
Thomas Wright (Image: Colin Mearns)
Rather than being defined by his addiction, Tam has put his efforts into instilling hope in those fighting their own battles.
Through volunteering with organisations like Glasgow City Mission, the Simon Community and Life Housing, Tam has helped people experiencing homelessness find accommodation and rebuild their lives after addiction, particularly drugs and alcohol.
Tam, who is from Govan but has lived in Scotstoun for 12 years, said: “I volunteered at the Winter Night Shelter with Glasgow City Mission for four months and at one point, there were 40 people with addiction in one building. We would get them a mattress, sleeping bag, food, and we would stay awake with them through the night to ensure they did not overdose.
“When I worked with the street team at Simon Community, I helped get people off the streets and into temporary accommodation. I pulled two people out of house fires while working there.
“There was a fire in the bottom flat one week in Motherwell. The guy had been cooking but was clearly under the influence. He had locked the door. I told him to open it, or I’d have to knock it in. He eventually did, and I got him out. Another time was a guy in an upstairs flat. There were flames in his living room; he didn’t even know it was on fire. I had to boot the door in and carry him out.”
Meanwhile, while at Life Housing, he said he did the most amount of support he has ever provided.
He added: “The team and I helped people with meal preparation, getting homes and learning to budget. It is an amazing place, they do incredible work.”
Tam also helped three people who overdosed while he was volunteering, describing one of the men as being on a ‘deadly cocktail’.
Thomas Wright (Image: Colin Mearns)
Tam said that though working with people with addiction can be tough and stressful, helping those in need has been a great experience.
He added: “I just want to give people hope. Addiction is an existence, not living.
“I struggled for 20 years, and you cannot just stop one day; it is a hard process, but I got there in the end, and now, I am happy.
“I want people to know that there is a way out; that they can have a life again.”
Tam has managed to heal, not only through recovery, but through finding religion. Having been a Christian for the last 36 years, he said it has set him free.
Turning to religion also helped him after losing most of his family to cancer and battling the disease himself alongside Covid-19.
Tam is now retired and planning to do more volunteering in the future.
If you, or someone you know, is battling addiction, you can find resources HERE
Meanwhile, homelessness resources can be found by visiting, https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homeless/council_contact/glasgow