police have spoken of multiple injuries. it follows the killing of nineteen children and two teachers at a school in texas. now on bbc news: jeremy cooke takes an in—depth look at mental health and drug addiction and is given exclusive access to a new approach. this programme contains graphic scenes of drug use. hello. hi. tony. jeremy. it is aril hello. hi. tony. jeremy. it is april 2021 — hello. hi. tony. jeremy. it is april 2021 and _ hello. hi. tony. jeremy. it is april 2021 and | _ hello. hi. tony. jeremy. it is april 2021 and i am - hello. hi. tony. jeremy. it is april 2021 and i am in - april 2021 and i am in north—west england meeting tony. north-west england meeting ton . ., , ., ,, , north-west england meeting tony-— we i tony. covid rules apply. we still have — tony. covid rules apply. we still have our _ tony. covid rules apply. we still have our masks - tony. covid rules apply. we still have our masks on. - tony. covid rules apply. we. still have our masks on. with tony. covid rules apply. we i still have our masks on. with a bit of luck we're getting the end of it. bit of luck we're getting the end of it— bit of luck we're getting the end of it. . ~ , ., end of it. thankfully we headed off and that _ end of it. thankfully we headed off and that is _ end of it. thankfully we headed off and that is good _ end of it. thankfully we headed off and that is good news - off and that is good news because for the next year or so i will see a lot of him. when we finish with this what would you like people to understand about you and people like you that we do not understand at the moment. we like everybody else, we are peoplejust like everybody else. we are human beings. most drug addicts have a reason they are addicted. for ton , a reason they are addicted. for tony, birkenhead is home. just across the riverfrom across the river from liverpool. there were drug problems here but also an understanding of this inextricable link between addiction and mental health problems. this is a community with its own challenges but also its own answers. as i'll be finding out. there is nothing wrong with this except for the c# key. tony has invited me around to his flat. he is busy and i have been roped in to help. just lengthways- _ been roped in to help. just lengthways. his _ been roped in to help. just lengthways. his music- been roped in to help. just - lengthways. his music keyboard needs fixing- — lengthways. his music keyboard needs fixing. i _ lengthways. his music keyboard needs fixing. i want _ lengthways. his music keyboard needs fixing. i want to - lengthways. his music keyboard needs fixing. i want to find - needs fixing. i want to find out what is that the root of tony's problems. he is 58 now. but it all started when he was a teenager and his mum and dad both died. , ., , , ~ both died. things happen like bereavement _ both died. things happen like bereavement of _ both died. things happen like bereavement of your - both died. things happen like bereavement of your parents | both died. things happen like - bereavement of your parents and your mates when you are a teenager. that turned you into schizophrenia and that is what happened to me. did this help you? happened to me. did this help ou? , , ., j , you? definitely! if tony's problems— you? definitely! if tony's problems start _ you? definitely! if tony's problems start with - problems start with schizophrenia they are linked to one complicated by heroin. and he has been on it for more than three decades. help? and he has been on it for more than three decades.— than three decades. how have ou than three decades. how have you been? _ than three decades. how have you been? up _ than three decades. how have you been? up and _ than three decades. how have you been? up and down. - than three decades. how have you been? up and down. i- than three decades. how have l you been? up and down. i have been too much at home. i left the house a couple of weeks before i saw you and i can do that again but i have let myself down. i look at it like i am self—medicating rather than getting high. you i am self-medicating rather than getting high.— than getting high. you say self-medication _ than getting high. you say self-medication do - than getting high. you say self-medication do you . than getting high. you say . self-medication do you think, self—medication do you think, possibly, from your point of view your mental health is better with the drugs and it would have been without? definitely, yes. what might have happened if you hadn't? i would have killed myself. i would have killed myself. i felt pretty low. how much time do you spend in this flat alone? , , alone? every day. i live here. i sleep on _ alone? every day. i live here. i sleep on my _ alone? every day. i live here. i sleep on my own _ alone? every day. i live here. i sleep on my own and - alone? every day. i live here. i sleep on my own and i - alone? every day. i live here. i sleep on my own and i wake alone? every day. i live here. i i sleep on my own and i wake up alone. i am i sleep on my own and i wake up alone. iam not i sleep on my own and i wake up alone. i am not good with women. i have no self—confidence so i am just single. it's the best policy for me. ., ., ., ., for me. you are tough on yourself. _ for me. you are tough on yourself, made. - for me. you are tough on yourself, made. do- for me. you are tough on yourself, made. do you | for me. you are tough on - yourself, made. do you consider yourself, made. do you consider yourself a failure?— yourself a failure? yeah. yeah, definitely- _ yourself a failure? yeah. yeah, definitely. you _ yourself a failure? yeah. yeah, definitely. you don't _ yourself a failure? yeah. yeah, definitely. you don't have - yourself a failure? yeah. yeah, definitely. you don't have to i definitely. you don't have to send definitely. you don't have to spend much _ definitely. you don't have to spend much time _ definitely. you don't have to spend much time with - definitely. you don't have to spend much time with tony| definitely. you don't have to i spend much time with tony to understand that his key worker, john, is a vitally important figure in his life.— john, is a vitally important figure in his life. when he was usin: it figure in his life. when he was using it the — figure in his life. when he was using it the impact _ figure in his life. when he was using it the impact it - figure in his life. when he was using it the impact it had - figure in his life. when he was using it the impact it had and l using it the impact it had and how— using it the impact it had and how manic he went, everything used _ how manic he went, everything used to— how manic he went, everything used to get to your lot more. it's used to get to your lot more. it's less— used to get to your lot more. it's less frequent than it was. john knows that getting tony stable — john knows that getting tony stable and settled is a long—term commitment. now are you happy? i long-term commitment. now are you happy?— you happy? i have had to be. youjust— you happy? i have had to be. you just wonder _ you happy? i have had to be. you just wonder where - you happy? i have had to be. you just wonder where he . you happy? i have had to be. you just wonder where he is | you just wonder where he is going — you just wonder where he is going with it all. it depends on how— going with it all. it depends on how he wakes up on which day and he _ on how he wakes up on which day and he has — on how he wakes up on which day and he has adhd and paranoid schizophrenia and i think he is autislic— schizophrenia and i think he is autistic as— schizophrenia and i think he is autistic as well but he has never_ autistic as well but he has never had that looked into. john— never had that looked into. john keeps across tony's medication that tony gets. he alsojust gets him. john is just one small part of the drug support network here that includes nhs services and specialist recovery programmes and voluntary organisations. and then there is the mental health side. it is crucial. in the wirral, 72% of the opiate users and 84% of the alcoholics are in treatment here are also living with serious mental health conditions. that is why i have come to seejoe. you i have come to see joe. you cannot see _ i have come to see joe. you cannot see it _ i have come to see joe. you cannot see it in _ i have come to see joe. you cannot see it in yourself- cannot see it in yourself sometimes when you look at me. he is the manager at this cafe. it might look like a coffee bar and it is coffee bar. but look again. this places also, an nhs funded a&e for those in mental health crisis.— health crisis. you're doing amazing- _ health crisis. you're doing amazing- i— health crisis. you're doing amazing. i am _ health crisis. you're doing amazing. i am not - health crisis. you're doing amazing. i am not strong | health crisis. you're doing - amazing. i am not strong enough to fiuht amazing. i am not strong enough to fight against _ amazing. i am not strong enough to fight against my _ amazing. i am not strong enough to fight against my head. - amazing. i am not strong enough to fight against my head. can - to fight against my head. can ou to fight against my head. can you keep _ to fight against my head. can you keep yourself safe? i - you keep yourself safe? think. you keep yourself safe? i think. you _ you keep yourself safe? i think. you think- you keep yourself safe? i think. you think so? - you keep yourself safe? i think. you think so? i - you keep yourself safe? i | think. you think so? i had won't let _ think. you think so? i had won't let me. _ think. you think so? i had won't let me. the - think. you think so? i had won't let me. the idea . think. you think so? i had won't let me. the idea is| think. you think so? i had - won't let me. the idea is that an one won't let me. the idea is that anyone can — won't let me. the idea is that anyone can come _ won't let me. the idea is that anyone can come through - won't let me. the idea is that i anyone can come through these doors, no questions asked, no delays. doors, no questions asked, no dela s. ~ ., ., delays. well done. i will going aet ou delays. well done. i will going get you a _ delays. well done. i will going get you a drink. _ delays. well done. i will going get you a drink. when - delays. well done. i will going | get you a drink. when someone comes— get you a drink. when someone comes in— get you a drink. when someone comes in hearing crisis we don't _ comes in hearing crisis we don't want them to wait an or two _ don't want them to wait an or two to— don't want them to wait an or two to see _ don't want them to wait an or two to see someone and at the moment— two to see someone and at the moment at this place if they go to a85 — moment at this place if they go to a85 if— moment at this place if they go to a&e if they go there they will wait for six or seven hours _ will wait for six or seven hours. here they can have a tea or coffee — hours. here they can have a tea or coffee but ultimately they need — or coffee but ultimately they need to— or coffee but ultimately they need to feel like they are being _ need to feel like they are being heard and listened to. it is a being heard and listened to. is a big being heard and listened to. it is a big achievement. i am on 30-40 is a big achievement. i am on 30—a0 cups of tea a day. $5 30-40 cups of tea a day. as most 30—40 cups of tea a day. as most people here and they will tell you this link between mental health and substance abuse is real. for this man it was the booze.— was the booze. vodka, everything. _ was the booze. vodka, everything, do - was the booze. vodka, everything, do not - was the booze. vodka, everything, do not i i was the booze. vodka, - everything, do not i mean? anything i could get my hands on, really. anything i could get my hands on. really-— on, really. that was five years. — on, really. that was five years. six _ on, really. that was five years, six months - on, really. that was five years, six months and i on, really. that was five i years, six months and four on, really. that was five - years, six months and four days ago and counting. dude has been off the drink since then. sometimes he is strong enough to volunteer and make the coffees, support others in crisis. but he is still working on his own recovery. i crisis. but he is still working on his own recovery.- crisis. but he is still working on his own recovery. i suffer a lot of ptsd — on his own recovery. i suffer a lot of ptsd and _ on his own recovery. i suffer a lot of ptsd and i _ on his own recovery. i suffer a lot of ptsd and i was - on his own recovery. i suffer a lot of ptsd and i was self - lot of ptsd and i was self harming, i have nightmares and stuff like that. i don't sleep well. ., ., , ., well. you are stuck in a difficult _ well. you are stuck in a difficult past? - well. you are stuck in a difficult past? and - well. you are stuck in a difficult past? and now| well. you are stuck in a i difficult past? and now it well. you are stuck in a - difficult past? and now it is recovery? _ difficult past? and now it is recovery? now _ difficult past? and now it is recovery? now it _ difficult past? and now it is recovery? now it is - difficult past? and now it is l recovery? now it is recovery, yeah. which is hard but i think it is hard for anybody, do you know what i mean? there is nothing easy about it. thank you for talking to us. thank you. you for talking to us. thank ou. , y ., , you for talking to us. thank ou. , , ., , you for talking to us. thank ou. , ., , you. keep yourself safe and try to net you. keep yourself safe and try to get back _ you. keep yourself safe and try to get back to _ you. keep yourself safe and try to get back to us _ you. keep yourself safe and try to get back to us if— you. keep yourself safe and try to get back to us if you - you. keep yourself safe and try to get back to us if you can. . you. keep yourself safe and try to get back to us if you can. i l to get back to us if you can. i was drinking every single night _ was drinking every single night i_ was drinking every single night. i came _ was drinking every single night. i came here - was drinking every single night. i came here as - was drinking every single night. i came here as a l was drinking every single i night. i came here as a man was drinking every single - night. i came here as a man who 'ust night. i came here as a man who just did — night. i came here as a man who just did not — night. i came here as a man who just did not know— night. i came here as a man who just did not know where - night. i came here as a man who just did not know where to - night. i came here as a man who just did not know where to go. . just did not know where to go. rob is— just did not know where to go. rob is another— just did not know where to go. rob is another who _ just did not know where to go. rob is another who arrived - rob is another who arrived hearing crisis. forjoe and his team it is all about making that first crucial connection, especially with men who can find it hard to ask for help. parts of my family don't understand _ parts of my family don't understand how- parts of my family don't understand how close . parts of my family don't understand how close ii parts of my family don't - understand how close i was, do you know — understand how close i was, do you know what _ understand how close i was, do you know what i _ understand how close i was, do you know what i mean? - understand how close i was, do you know what i mean? and . understand how close i was, dol you know what i mean? and this place _ you know what i mean? and this place did — you know what i mean? and this place did. they— you know what i mean? and this place did. they got _ you know what i mean? and this place did. they got it. _ you know what i mean? and this place did. they got it. they- place did. they got it. they understood _ place did. they got it. they understood when _ place did. they got it. they understood when i - place did. they got it. they understood when i sat - place did. they got it. they understood when i sat at i place did. they got it. they- understood when i sat at home crying — understood when i sat at home crying in — understood when i sat at home crying in the _ understood when i sat at home crying in the shower— understood when i sat at home crying in the shower on - understood when i sat at home crying in the shower on my- understood when i sat at home. crying in the shower on my own, these _ crying in the shower on my own, these get — crying in the shower on my own, these get it _ crying in the shower on my own, these get it— these get it. and something this simple _ these get it. and something this simple can _ these get it. and something this simple can save - these get it. and something this simple can save lives. l these get it. and something i this simple can save lives. can save lives. this simple can save lives. can save lives-— save lives. you really believe that? i know _ save lives. you really believe that? l know that. _ save lives. you really believe that? l know that. i'm - save lives. you really believe that? i know that. i'm living | that? i know that. i'm living proof — that? i know that. i'm living proof i'rn _ that? i know that. i'm living proof. i'm here, _ that? i know that. i'm living proof. i'm here, aren't- that? i know that. i'm living proof. i'm here, aren't i? it| proof. i'm here, aren't i? it is that— proof. i'm here, aren't i? it is that simple. _ proof. i'm here, aren't i? it is that simple. it— proof. i'm here, aren't i? it is that simple.— proof. i'm here, aren't i? it is that simple. it is one that is that simple. it is one that is in the _ is that simple. it is one that is in the pipeline, _ is that simple. it is one that is in the pipeline, to - is that simple. it is one that is in the pipeline, to share l is in the pipeline, to share that one. the human touch. take it easy, mate. that one. the human touch. take it easy. mate-— it easy, mate. important stuff. i am in birkenhead _ it easy, mate. important stuff. i am in birkenhead spending i it easy, mate. important stuff. i am in birkenhead spending a| i am in birkenhead spending a year getting to know tony. schizophrenic, addicted to heroin that so much more than that. of course, tony comes with plenty of baggage but it's not all bleak. do you want to hand with these ones as well? today we are out on the town. as soon as we get them out it will start raining again, you know? it probably will. a street showcase of his photography. street showcase of his photography-- street showcase of his -hotoara-h. ., , street showcase of his -hotoara-h. , , photography. nobody even stops to look. it has _ photography. nobody even stops to look. it has been _ photography. nobody even stops to look. it has been both - photography. nobody even stops to look. it has been both a - to look. it has been both a passion — to look. it has been both a passion and _ to look. it has been both a passion and a _ to look. it has been both a passion and a therapy. - to look. it has been both a i passion and a therapy. after setting up, a chance to catch up setting up, a chance to catch up and when tony says dabbling, what he means is using heroin. however you been? what he means is using heroin. howeveryou been? i'm what he means is using heroin. however you been? i'm 0k. what he means is using heroin. howeveryou been? i'm ok. i'm still dabbling but i haven't been as good as this for years. it is taking me a while to get off the cocaine.— it is taking me a while to get off the cocaine. crack cocaine? i have off the cocaine. crack cocaine? i have my _ o