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At the age of 19, Dan Butcher embarked on a prosperous fifteen-year-career in the London financial markets. He started life as a trainee trader and quickly worked his way up the ranks.

"Basically I'm the youngest of six children. My father was very successful and he gave me a great life. I wanted to emulate that. Trading just seemed like an exciting lifestyle."

In the beginning, he was totally opposed to using any sort of narcotics. However, he regularly found himself in social situations with work colleagues who were drinking and taking drugs.

"Lots of traders in the early 90's were drinking loads and taking cocaine. I was always a shy person when I was in a big group of people."

"In a weak moment while drunk in a club, I decided to experiment and that's where it all went wrong."

The habit started out as an occasional treat, which took place once a month or whenever he was at an event. However, the months turned into years and his addiction worsened.

"Earlier on, it fooled me into thinking it was doing what I wanted it to do.

"In the last three years of my addiction I became absolutely dependent on the substance. I was taking between six and eight grams of cocaine a day (approximately £300-£400).

"I couldn't function without it. My head would tell me I couldn't cope a single day without this substance."

Dan has never blamed the stress of his job on his addiction. He believes that it was always in him.

"I had an addictive personality. I didn't have coping mechanisms that normal people would have. I always used things to remove myself from my own feelings.

"As a child, I used to dream and take myself off to a fantasy land, so I could get away from what was really happening."

In May 2006, he reached an all time low. The married father-of-two was arrested by the police for a minor driving offence. When he was searched, they found three and a half grams of cocaine in his possession.

Due to his smart clothes and car, they wrongly assumed he was a drugs dealer. The police then went on to search his house. That's when his wife discovered he had a drugs problem.

"I think family members want to believe as much as possible that this isn't going on. If you're living with an addict, their illness affects everyone around them.

"For a long time my wife could tell that something wasn't right, but just put it down to the stress of my working environment.

"The stigma attached to addiction in this country is diabolical. I believed I was weak and useless. I had no self-esteem whatsoever." 

He had reached rock bottom. Dan's employers gave him a final warning and his wife threatened to leave him if he didn't clean up his act.

Through sheer will power he stopped taking drugs for six weeks, but he eventually suffered a relapse.

"It took until October 2006 to reach my point of absolutely no return. This is when I went into rehab.

"Addiction doesn't care if you're rich, poor, young, old, male or female. It will get anyone."

While in recovery the therapists also informed him of his alcohol dependency problem.

"At first I didn't realise that drinking a bottle of vodka a day wasn't normal."

He now doesn't touch anything, apart from the occasional cigarette. Through these experiences he was inspired to set up a website called the Recovery Network.

The site helps people with any type of addiction. They offer information, help, advice and support through their social networking outlet.

"Without the drink or drugs there was a lot of pain to get through. I owe my recovery to my wife. The Recovery Network wouldn't exist without her tough love.

"We now have complete and utter honesty in our relationship, it's amazing. This is something my addiction wouldn't allow". 

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