Making a Difference

‘This is the longest I’ve ever been clean’

For one client, life began to unravel with the sudden loss of their father, someone they deeply cherished. Grieving and overwhelmed by trauma, they turned to heroin as an escape—a way to numb the pain and feel connected to their late brother, who also struggled with addiction. Years passed in a haze of drug use, failed attempts to quit, and countless moments of despair.

Homelessness, overdoses, and the judgment of others only deepened their sense of hopelessness. “I should’ve died three or four times,” they recall. “Heroin fixes one thing and destroys everything else.”
Everything changed when they found the MSIR. Here, they experienced safety, dignity, and the chance to access life-saving resources. With the support of caring staff, they were introduced to Buvidal, a treatment that finally freed them from heroin’s grip.

Today, their life is unrecognizable: stable housing, financial independence, and dreams of starting a family. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been. Buvidal gave me the chance to rebuild my life, and I’ll never look back.”

‘We need to have the right support around‘

A really good friend of mine passed away, she was my best friend actually. One day we were using together and we both fell asleep. When I woke up, I could see that she was not responding. I tried tapping her a few times to wake her up, but there was no response. I tried to resuscitate her – and it looked like it could be working – but by the time the ambulance came, they said that she had been out of it for too long. She was a long-term user of heroin and she had a life where she could manage it ok, but this time was different. I wish I had naloxone on me. I started using when I was 17 and its been a part of my life for a very long time. People need to understand that stuff has happened to us. No-one just uses drugs because they want to – you need to ask, ‘what has happened to that person, what has happened in their childhood?’. I don’t want to blame everything on my childhood, but it has played a big role in why I use. We need to have the right support around us. I like the MSIR. I used to always inject in the car park but now I always use the MSIR. I have needed oxygen a couple of times… You are all saving a lot of lives.

‘I just did it because it numbed my pain.’

The first time I knew about someone dying from overdose was my mate’s mum – we were in Grade 7. She died in the bathroom. I saw a few others overdose since then – some of them were revived with naloxone. I was very young when I experienced it all.
I was in foster care and then I was in and out of jail from the age of 17 – only petty theft – nothing violent, I just needed small amounts of money to food and drugs. I started with methamphetamine – I just did it because it numbed my pain.
I have overdosed on the street before. One time, all I remember is that it was pitch black and then I woke up and saw the ambulance and fire-brigade around me. Someone gave me naloxone, it saved me. I carry naloxone with me now, people should get trained in how to use it. I’ve actually used the naloxone spray – it works quickly. The MSIR has helped me a lot. Not just because I am able to safely inject but you guys talk to me and help me with all kinds of things. I can even have something to eat and drink. I really trust the staff, I’ve had a few very low moments and the staff here has really helped me.