Aaron
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Teenage curiosity about drugs led Aaron down a dark path — at 18 he became involved with ‘‘party drugs’’, mainly ecstasy and speed.
‘‘I just kept taking more and more ... I went to Cairns to get off (drugs) then came back here and just started smoking ice,’’ he said.
Aaron said methamphetamines were ‘‘ridiculously easy’’ to get in Shepparton.
His lowest point was being remanded into custody for the third time last year.
‘‘(It was) in April last year, knowing that I lost everything and everyone. My Mum told me she didn’t want to see me when I got out,’’ he said.
Aaron’s lawyer called The Cottage and general manager Joshua Simm and support worker Rylee Brawn went and spoke with Aaron.
He entered the program and remained there for nearly five months.
Now, Aaron’s life is back on track. He has a loving partner and is returning to study.
‘‘It’s absolutely amazing. I’m about to have a baby and I’m about to go back to school (studying) community service,’’ he said.
Aaron hopes to build on his own misfortune to help others.
‘‘I can be empathetic with people (addicted to drugs). I understand what they’re going through,’’ he said.
Tye
Another former methamphetamine addict, Tye said his life had been out of control and he would take any drug he could find.
‘‘Everything (and) anything I could get my hands on, (but) mainly ice,’’ he said.
Four years ago, almost to the day, a group of Tye’s friends were returning from Melbourne.
‘‘None of them were in a state to drive. One of them went on the nod at the wheel and put them all into a tree,’’ Tye said.
Tye said all of them died.
‘‘I kept using, trying to block that pain away. Bury it, (just) bury it. It just got worse from there for me,’’ he said.
Tye said he tried moving away from Shepparton to escape a culture of methamphetamine use, but wherever he went, the so-called ice epidemic was already there.
‘‘Wherever I went the problem followed me ... I worked in a small town out in Arnhem Land and I could still find it out there,’’ he said.
Tye moved into The Cottage and remained there for five months.
He said his best moments had been a return to health and having his family back in his life.
‘‘I’m feeling healthy (and) back at work. I’ve got a good stable job. Family — having my family back in my life, my kids back in my life (is the best thing). Family is the main thing,’’ he said.
Bobby
Following a debilitating road accident in 2004, Bobby’s life took a turn for the worse.
He went from smoking cannabis to smoking methamphetamines.
‘‘I had a bad accident in 2004, I got run over,’’ he said.
Bobby said his drug abuse shattered his family life and he lost his children.
‘‘I had three kids, and yeah, (the Department of Human Services) took them. And then things spiralled from there,’’ he said.
About three months ago, Bobby entered The Cottage program and is continuing with the process of recovery.
‘‘I’m only a newcomer, (but) it’s been awesome ... I could only wish the best for this place,’’ he said.
Bobby hopes he can stick with the program and one day see his children again.
He said getting off the drugs was all down to the support he had received at The Cottage.
Tina
Now a grandmother, Tina had her first drink of alcohol at the age of 11. She later became addicted.
At the age of 28 she attempted to commit suicide. The lowest point in her life came as a result of the attempt, she said, but it was not the attempt itself — it was the reaction of her daughter.
‘‘My daughter came and saw me in the hospital and said, ‘Mum, what did I do wrong?’’’ Tina said.
Tina said she kept her addiction a secret, but eventually buckled under the strain.
‘‘I was isolated. Nobody out of work knew about my private life whatsoever. (It was) my secret addiction,’’ she said.
Tina said her workplace was supportive and after hearing about The Cottage through a family friend she finally decided to try to kick her addiction.
‘‘I had a big cry for help because I was in hospital and my boss found out,’’ she said.
Tina entered The Cottage program in May last year, but failed at her first attempt.
‘‘I left too early because I was so work-driven and wanted to get back to work. My daughter was pregnant, and she was due in July. I left about a week before because she was only 16 and I didn’t want to miss out on her delivery,’’ Tina said.
But after returning to the program she has been without alcohol for 140 days and said life had never felt better.
Her best experience is having her grandchildren and son visit at the facility.
‘‘It’s never too late to build relationships. As desperate and black as it feels — it’s never ever too late,’’ she said.
If this article causes you distress, phone Lifeline on 131114 or beyondblue on 1300224636.
The Cottage can be contacted by phoning 0499989741 or through visiting the website thecottage.org.au