17/06/2026
Inspirational ✨️
From Squalor To Salvation: The Unbelievable Transformation Of A Mother Who Survived Addiction Hell To Become Citizen Of The Year 👏💖
An inspirational South Wales mother who spent eight years trapped in a brutal cycle of he**in and crack co***ne addiction has bravely shared her story to prove that recovery is always possible.
Jodie Davies, from Tonyrefail, lived through an absolute hell of violence, homelessness and squalor. Her addiction took her to dangerous environments from the Rhondda to London, leaving her with broken ribs, black eyes and a body weight that plummeted to just seven stone.
She describes her past life as a desperate, daily survival loop focused entirely on finding money and scoring drugs, ignoring basic needs like eating just to block out deep personal trauma.
Everything changed when Jodie discovered she was pregnant with her eldest son. Determined to build a better future, she chose to face her demons and put in the hard work alongside a dedicated support worker.
Today, Jodie is celebrating 17 years of being completely he**in free. Instead of hiding from her past, she uses her lived experience to run Families Supporting Families, a vital community support group and warm hub in Tonyrefail. Her tireless voluntary work includes running addiction peer support groups, organizing self defence classes for domestic violence survivors and helping people access local foodbanks.
In a powerful full circle moment, the community that once watched her struggle has officially recognised her incredible impact, crowning Jodie as Tonyrefail’s Citizen of the Year for 2026.
By sharing her stark transformation, Jodie hopes to break the shame surrounding addiction and inspire anyone still stuck in the darkness to reach out for peer support and change their life.