Heroin addict turning life around after stroke (extended)

• Broadcast Date:

  Wednesday, July 22, 2009 on stv

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• Heroin addict turning life around after stroke (extended)

  An Aberdeen teenager hooked on heroin since the age of 13 says a drug induced stroke has forced him to turn his life around.
  
  The deadly drug turned Danny McCann into a thief with a string of convictions and a near-��300-a-week habit to feed.
  
  Danny says he is trying to take control of his life again, starting with a heartfelt apology to all the victims he targeted while trying to get his next fix.
  
  Danny was rushed to hospital in his 18th birthday after a cocktail of drugs led to a mini-stroke.
  
  He said: ���It was muscle spasms and stuff and I ended up in hospital for, I think it was three weeks, four weeks and the doctor says I could have died.
  
  ���It was quite scary and when I was lying on the bed and I couldn't talk or walk it made me think drug is not worth it���.
  
  Danny said he left Bankhead Academy at the age of 12 after being bullied. By the tender age of 13 he was hooked on heroin and by 16 he was sent to prison after a string of offences.
  
  He admits he did not care who he stole from so long as he could pay for his next fix
  
  Danny said: ���It was basically breaking into cars, taking Sat-Navs and things, anything I could get my hands on and selling it for money or stealing phones and stuff���.
  
  Danny was partly brought up by his grandparents, his late Grandad Alexander and Grandmother Ruth.
  
  In the past, the 78-year-old has often been the victim of her own grandsons' crimes. She hopes the stroke will be a blessing in disguise.
  
  She said: ���He was terribly underweight when he came out of hospital, he was like a zombie, and I���ll never forget it.
  
  But since then there's been a big improvement. In the last 4 or 5 weeks he���s realised and he's come back to reality and he know she's done wrong'
  
  Danny added: ���I'd just like to say sorry to every one of the people that's had their cars targeted by me and I just wish I'd never done it.
  
  But I had a drug habit to feed and if I wasn't on drugs I wouldn't have done that.
  
  I���m just sorry to everyone for the money they've had to put out to spend to fix their cars and stuff that they've lost.���
  
  Danny says he has not stolen or taken drugs since his near death experience four weeks ago.
  
  He now hopes to move to a new area for a fresh start and is begging those he has hurt in the past for a second chance.

• Video Tags

  Health, News, Drugs, heroin

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