A FORMER heroin user who feared he would die in the height of his addiction has overcame his demons to become a fully-qualified nurse.

Cavan McKenna was just 17 years old when he began using the highly-addictive Class A drug heroin, which led to a seven-year addiction.

The now 30-year-old, who is from Barrow, was struggling with his sexuality when he turned to drugs, using a number of substances as a coping mechanism.

In the depth of his addiction, Mr McKenna believed he could not survive without his daily dose of heroin.

He said: "I ended up getting in with the wrong crowd and eventually succumbed to heroin.

"I used to use it to help with the comedowns caused by uppers like ecstasy and cocaine.

"Then I began using it daily and multiple times a day- I thought I needed it to survive.

"Whilst you're in your addiction, you would do anything to get drugs. I felt like I couldn't function without it.

"I would be shaking, feeling sick, my brain would start playing games with me - it was horrendous."

At the height of his addiction, Mr McKenna's weight fell to just seven and a half stone.

"My mum said to me you will die if you keep doing this," he said.

"I once injected it in my arm and it caused a blood clot and I had to go to hospital.

"I was a shell of myself but I still couldn't stop using."

Mr McKenna said he hit breaking point when his family began pleading with him to stop.

"I hated seeing my mam and nanna so upset and knew I was causing it," he said.

"I'd tried so many times to come off it but failed every time. It got to the point where I knew I could do better for myself, so I went on holiday to Gran Canaria and didn't use for a week straight.

"It was the worst holiday of my life but I felt so much better at the end of it. I knew I had achieved something getting that far."

Mr McKenna then moved to Blackpool and started working at a nursing home as a healthcare assistant.

He said: "I really enjoyed it and loved looking after people. I watched the nurses and thought that's what I want to do so I began looking into doing my GCSEs, because I didn't get any at school.

"I passed my Maths and English then completed an access course and started applying for university."

Mr McKenna was accepted into the University of Cumbria where he studied for three years at the Lancaster campus.

He now works as a fully qualified nurse at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

"I never thought I'd be able to go to university and become a fully qualified nurse," he said.

"I just feel so proud of myself for getting this far and reaching this goal.

"If I can do it, anyone can."

Mr McKenna has issued advice to other drug users who are struggling.

"Set goals for yourself everyday and envision your future," he said.

"Don't let the drugs take over your life before it is too late."