INVERCLYDE’S first total abstinence rehabilitation unit to help women to beat drug and alcohol addictions will officially open tomorrow.

But the centre based in Shankland Road in Greenock run by the Jericho Society is already helping women to change their lives for the better.

The Telegraph got exclusive access to the new unit and spoke to some of the residents who were brave enough to share the experiences that brought them there.

One of them, Jenny Todd, 25, spiralled into a world of despair, bolstered by alcohol and valium, triggered by a troubled childhood.

One of them, Jenny, inset, said: “My parents had addictions too. My mum and dad split up and my mum couldn’t cope and neglected me.

“I ended up going into the care system. It was quite scary and I didn’t have much direction over what was happening in my life.

“I turned to alcohol – it was a comfort. I was drinking up to six litres of cider a day,”

But the turning point came when Jenny’s friend died of an overdose.

She said: “That was a wake-up call because I thought that could be me. She told me before she died to make something of myself. She gave me the determination to do that.”

Jenny has been clean for 36 days and says Jericho has given her a second chance – and a future.

She said: “I love Jericho. It’s the safest place I’ve been in for a long time. It gives me hope.”

Her fellow resident Gail Williamson’s addiction to alcohol, heroin and methadone ended with her being hospitalised with gallstones in her bile duct, which can result from cirrhosis of the liver.

The 44-year-old said: “I woke up with tubes everywhere. The doctors said if I didn’t stop taking drugs I would die. I tried, but I was never able to do it.”

Gail has now been drug free for 101 days but admits it was difficult.

She said: “I feel good now, it’s the best I’ve felt since I was 12.”

Margaret Diamond, Jericho senior project worker, has been campaigning for help for women for 11 years and says the difference in Gail since she arrived is truly remarkable.

She explained: “Gail was the first woman to come into the centre and was only five stones. Her legs wouldn’t carry her up the stairs.

“She’s better now and she’s been a good support to the other women.”

Margaret says she is delighted to be able to offer women like Gail the same help as Jericho gives men at their Bank Street base.

The former hostel for men has been deep cleaned, refurbished and kitted out with furniture and beds.

The men’s unit has been given top marks by the Care Inspectorate for three years in a row – and the women’s unit will be run on the same basis.

Margaret says she wants to thank the Tele for its support of the project.

She said: “We want to thank the Telegraph. We have never been frightened to go to the paper because it has always been positive in reporting what we are doing.

“We can trust the Telegraph, and because of the coverage we’ve had in the paper with the guys dressed up in costume for their shows, whenever we carry out street collections people are not suspicious of them.”