Tasmanian eshay's emotional message to his younger self after life of regretful decisions

An eshay has candidly opened up about his troubled life battling alcohol and drug addiction and his regrets of dropping out of school when he was younger.

Young Tasmanian dad Jeremy, from the working class Hobart suburb of Glenorchy, was upfront and honest when approached by Sydney-based YouTube star Jamie Zhu for an online documentary.

Jeremy had a good upbringing, but fell into bad habits like smoking cigarettes while in high school and ended up dropping out to become a mechanic.

His life spiralled out of control when his drinking - including on his lunch break and after work each night - turned him into an alcoholic.

He began using crystal methamphetamine - better known as the drug ice - and ended up on the streets of Hobart.

He hasn't seen his son in six years. 

Jeremy became visibly emotional and was full of regret when Zhu asked what advice he had for his younger self.

'Don't put that needle in your arm,' he began, struggling to keep his composure.

'Don't get on ice and don't sell your stuff, Jeremy. Wake up to yourself. 

'Stay, do better at school. I wish I could go back to school, you know?

'I would say study harder at school, stop effing around and making your life harder in the future for you.

'Listen to your father and listen to the advice he gave you.'

Sporting two black eyes, Jeremy explained his injuries were self-inflicted after spending the night in a police cell several days earlier.

He had been arrested for 'apparently assaulting a police officer'.

'I was heavily intoxicated and thought it was a good idea to bash my head against a wall,' Jeremy said.

'I got stripped naked. I was left in the cell with nothing, so in protest I started to smash my head against the wall.'

While he has a long way to go in getting back on the right path, Jeremy vowed to turn his life around.

He plans move to Burnie, 320km away, where his seven-year-old son lives.

'I haven't seen him since he was one, so that's a relationship that I want to establish because he doesn't know me and I don't know him,' he told Zhu.

'That's my main goal. That's what has kept me alive.' 

Jeremy admitted his son wouldn't be proud of him right now.

'But if I cleaned myself up and showed him that I'm a good person...' he said. 

Many viewers were touched by Jeremy's heartbreaking story.

'My heart goes out to you, Jeremy. If you happen to read this, we are all perfectly imperfect. You’re not a bad person and can get through what you’re going through,' one commented.

Another added: 'Jeremy, you have got this, brother. Knowing who you are is half the battle.

Zhu also interviewed former criminal Damo, who has turned his life around and become a new man by turning to Christianity.

He hopes to deter troubled teens from going down the wrong path like he did.

Watch Jamie Zhu's full documentary about Eshays on YouTube.