I went into a life on hold at the age of 25 when I became an iatrogenic victim of tranquillisers and many other consequent mind drugs. I came out of that chill at the age of 55 through personal discovery. So much for medical expertise in the use of drugs which I discovered were only supposed to be prescribed for a month at most including withdrawal.

I became a Primary teacher in 1972 and did Art as a main course. This followed years as a civil servant, local government officer, bus conductor and many temporary jobs – you can do that in London. That lasted until I was 38 in 1985 when the effects of polypharmacy finally caught up with me.

Anyway having struggled my way off the drugs, as you do, I moved into campaigning on the issue of benzodiazepines and other prescribed mind altering nostrums. I quickly discovered that health provision was about politics primarily and not health benefit, which was a side-effect if it occurred. I felt this message should be disseminated as widely as possible and I do this through images and print. But an image in the right place is worth a million words.

Like many other victims of tranquillisers I am never going to recover from the social and health effects that come with the addiction but I do my best to prevent others falling into the trap.