Thomas Delaney, now 39 and seven years drug-free, works as a public speaker to prevent substance abuse. His journey began in a troubled childhood, where he felt responsible for his parents' arguments and had suicidal thoughts from a young age. He later became addicted to ketamine, weighing just 38kg at his worst.
Born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Delaney moved to Hackney aged two, then to Barnsley with his mother in 1997 after his parents split. He first tried cocaine at 17 behind a Greggs in Barnsley town centre, immediately hooked on the feeling of connection. After a collapse at work due to weekend partying, he was fired and moved to Ireland for a fresh start.
Returning to England, he tried London but eventually moved back to Barnsley at 21, where friends had switched to ketamine. Initially despising the drug, he began using it to come down from cocaine. Ketamine became his escape, leading to job loss and drug dealing. The turning point came after an argument with his mother, prompting him to seek help.
