Pat Buckley Founder of Amped4Life

Pat and his wife Karen

Pat & Karen Buckley are the founding members of Amped4Life Trust, Tauranga in 2002. Pat’s desire for this type of work was born out of personal experience. In 1977 at the age of 12 he started using drugs. At the age of 14 he started injecting narcotics. He spent 18 years stuck in the drug world, hopelessly addicted and looking for answers. Over the years he’s buried 45 of his friends as a result of drug abuse. Pat himself has flat lined − clinically died − three times. After this third experience, he knew enough was enough and decided to face his addiction or die. After two and a half years in rehab, he emerged a changed man. Now he speaks to thousands of young people across New Zealand every year, giving them the critical life skills and insights they needed to make informed and healthy choices for their lives.

This has led to further work with many of Bay of Plenty High Schools and continued to reach out to high schools and community groups throughout the country.

Pat is a dynamic and powerful speaker with a heart to equip and empower young people to make healthy and informed choices for life. He typically combines the latest research information with gutsy humour and illustrative anecdotes. Pat realistically and graphically communicates a message which helps young people understand the risks of making bad choices in relation to alcohol and drugs.