Breaking addiction with community-based services

11 Jun 2020

At 30 years old, Nina is a successful radio presenter/DJ, an Occupational Therapist and an artist, living independently in her own home, but her life wasn’t always this way.

For 13 years, Nina battled drug addiction, it was her means of escaping the pain, anxiety and depression that lived deep inside her, one that she hid from others.

“In 2013, I witnessed my best friend/boyfriend being king-hit from behind as we were walking home one night. He was the victim of a coward punch which left him with a severe, traumatic brain injury and dependent on care,” Nina said.

“I watched him suffer with the inability to walk or talk again. The pain and trauma was gut wrenching, a sadness words cannot describe. I witnessed his life taken from him followed by heartbreak, anger and agony until the day he passed, seven years later.

“In 2015, a new boyfriend introduced me to methamphetamines (meth). It was a very abusive relationship and he broke up with me very quickly afterwards, but the drugs were harder to escape.”

Because of that boyfriend, Nina had her own link into getting hard drugs and meeting the wrong people, it was the beginning of a downward spiral of lies and addiction.

“When you’re surrounded by drugs and you do meth, the high blocks out your emotions and you feel a false sense of relief and only at that moment do you feel happiness. However it isn’t real, it’s just a high that brings so many more lows after it,” Nina said.

“I was not happy, even though I was still seeing my friends and working. I was just never truly proud of the person I was.

“I always used on my own, so it was hard to break an independent habit that took my soul. It was all up to me, but I didn’t have the mental and emotional power to stop.”

The turning point for Nina was when her parents found out about her substance abuse after hiring a private detective and installing cameras in her home.

“The drugs were turning me into a person I didn’t recognise. I lost contact with my friends, my work was slipping, I was dating an intravenous heroin addict, dealing drugs myself, a victim to physical and sexual assaults, and resorted to robbery,” she said.
“The need for drugs destroyed any rational reasoning in my head and took away anything good in my life.”

In 2019, Nina was unable to make her mortgage repayments and on the brink of losing her home.

Nina was eventually introduced to the Matrix Model – a 20-week intensive outpatient addiction recovery program aimed at educating and supporting addicts to manage substance use behaviours in the community.

“The program looked at you living with your addiction in a community and the support of others experiencing similar experiences made me feel less alone. It changed the way I thought and helped me become self-reflective and look at the root of my pain,” Nina said.

After participating in the Matrix program for nine months, Nina was introduced to DAWN.

“With DAWN, you could either withdraw in-home or you could go to the Serenity House in Rockingham. I said, ‘send me to serenity’, because there was no way I could get clean at home.” Nina said.

“I needed a secure place. I quit smoking and meth all in one go which was really tough.”

Leading up to detoxing, Nina saw Jeff from DAWN every week, who not only helped her throughout the withdrawal process, but also her family who were suffering from the devastating consequences of her drug addiction.

“DAWN helped educate my family and this helped in them understanding and being supportive,” Nina said.

“Jeff came to my house and my family was there at every step. He was very engaging, which helped us all. Jeff was patient, supportive and non judgmental throughout the whole process.”

“I could tell that it wasn’t just a job for him. I was treated as a human being, not just another case study, which I respected and will always keep close to my heart.”

“I detoxed for 14 days and it was the hardest two weeks of my life,” Nina said.

“Seeing the burden and stress on my family was one of the toughest things. It broke them apart, but we’re so much better now.”

Nina talks about her past openly now and has a plan for the future.

“I’m very lucky that I’ve come out of this mentally well. I’ve come out of it wanting a life and not wanting to ever go back,” she said.

“When you’ve lived and learnt it, you are so much more connected to those who are struggling. Far greater than someone who has never experienced it before.”

Nina’s message to others struggling with addiction is to never give up hope.

“You may not be ready now, but that day will come. Don’t give up hope, even in the depths of despair. It’s about being ready. When you’re ready, there will be help waiting for you,” Nina said.

Nina has now been clean for four months and is embracing her recovery journey and looking forward to life, achieving goals and living a life she is proud of. She hopes her story will inspire others.

“My primary goal is staying clean each day, because it’s so easy to relapse,” she said.

“Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. You’ve got to be vigilant. Today, tomorrow, always.”

“For the first time in seven years, life is easy and I feel truly happy and my journey has made me realise that I don’t need drugs to live.”