A GREENOCK man who became addicted to sniffing glue in the 1970s has written a book about how he fought and defeated his life-endangering demons. 

Billy Brown has self-published his first book The Second Magpie - which he started writing 14 years ago - on Amazon. 

In the book, Billy, 64, recounts some of the most potent memories of his addiction and describes in vivid detail how he was able to overcome terrifying experiences. 

The Second Magpie has sold scores of copies already, and has been borrowed more than 400 times on the site's lending library. 

Billy says writing the book was an 'amazing experience' and said he's thrilled that people can now read about what he endured. 

He added: "I'm very proud of it. 

"It's great to know that people out there are reading it and it's having an impact."

In 1975, Billy got swept up in what he calls the 'glue-sniffing craze' when it arrived in Inverclyde. 

He said: "Slowly but surely people fell into it. 

"I got hooked on it wholeheartedly, mostly out of boredom. 

"I grew up in Finch Road and there were about 17 of us who would go up to the Lyle Hill. 

"We would use anything we could get our hands on.

"It was the only escape we had at that time."

Billy continued working as a 'red leader' painter in the Cartsburn yard as his addiction took hold of his life. 

Greenock Telegraph:
He says going to work fed into his compulsion for solvents. 

Billy added: "I would go to work and take in all these toxic fumes from the paint. 

"It was like a Busman's holiday for me. 

"I was getting paid to take in all the fumes during the day and going up to Lyle Hill to sniff glue at night."

Billy was caught in a cycle of addiction for around five years before he decided to go 'cold turkey' and stop completely. 

In the 20 years that followed, he continued to experience horrific 'attacks' by what he calls a 'supernatural entity' and used the power of his imagination to overcome the terrifying encounters.

Billy said he feared for his mental health at many times during his addiction and into his recovery. 

He added: "I was at my wit's end. 

"I thought insanity wasn't far away at some points and I was a nervous wreck.

"I know that it was psychological damage due to the solvents but these attacks were so real.

"The trauma is still there and I don't think it will ever leave me."

Billy is now looking forward to selling more copies of his book and hopes that his story will help people understand more about solvent addiction. 

He added: "All of my family have been really supportive and they've really believed in me."