Overcome from Drugs Addiction

Introduction: Lena did not have a stable upbringing. As a result, she tried ice and heroin out of interest to escape her problems but soon became addicted. Because of how the drugs made her feel, Lena began the journey of becoming clean. She has found happiness in her relationship and starting a photography business. Lena aims to inspire others to not do drugs and to come clean.

Story:

Lena was born in 1995 at the Canberra Hospital and has spent her life in Canberra, moving between foster homes, from the age of just three months. When Lena was older, she lived in refuges and went to Bimberi Detention Centre. Lena was placed in Bimberi on a few occasions for two counts of aggravated robbery, breach of bail and two counts of common assault. She is ashamed of her behaviour and glad she is no longer like that.

While in foster care, Lena did not have much contact with her parents, as her Dad was in and out of jail and her Mum had a drug addiction. Lena is now in contact with them and finds it good to be talking to them again.

Eventually, Lena’s grandmother took her in until she was 15 years old, after which she moved back in with her mum. Throughout this time, Lena was still under the care and protection of the state until she reached 18.

Growing up was hard. Lena did not understand why she was moved between families, why nobody wanted her and why she couldn’t be with her family. Being moved around so much was dislocating to Lena’s sense of self and, unsurprisingly, she feels the experience has been mentally damaging. She still has fears of being moved around and as a result, finds it hard to settle and be comfortable.

In addition, Lena does have siblings, with a sister and two brothers from her Mum and another two brothers from her Dad. Lena sees her brothers from her Dad four times a year and her sister, she has not seen in two years, but has made contact and will be seeing her soon.

Eventually, due to Lena’s difficult childhood, she became addicted to heroin and ice. To begin with, she was intrigued to try them, but also hoped that being on drugs would make things easier and she wouldn’t have to face her problems.

Ice made Lena feel good to start with, but she soon found once she was addicted, it was hard to do anything. Heroin also made her feel good and she smoked it instead of injecting it, which gave her the feeling of being relaxed.

Ultimately, becoming addicted to heroin and ice resulted in Lena feeling sick, having stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. It was awful and Lena now thinks how ridiculous it was that she needed those drugs just to function, once she was addicted.

Once taking ice and heroin became an addiction, Lena was using them every day. Sometimes it would be with other people and other times Lena would take the drugs by herself. Even when people were around, they didn’t always take drugs, however, Lena still did.

Lena doesn’t feel good about her decision to start taking them and really regrets it.

While, physically and mentally, Lena feels the drugs had a very negative effect on her, fortunately, they have not caused any long-term damage. Lena has learnt from her experience and is certain that she no longer wants or needs them in her life.

Lena became clean from ice in June 2019 and heroin in February 2019. Although she has the occasional slip-up, she is determined to not get into the habit again and become addicted.

When coming off heroin, she first tried by herself but wasn’t strong enough, so she has been taking methadone since to help her stay clean from heroin. Methadone is a synthetic opioid prescription drug that is used for opioid maintenance therapy.

In 2017 Lena met her partner Angus, who became the light for her darkness. She is so thankful to have met him and feels he played a vital role in helping her transform her life and come clean. Lena is not sure she would still be here if she didn’t meet him when she did.

Since becoming clean, Lena feels so much better, she has created goals for her life and is in the process of starting her own photography business. Lena has a positive outlook on life and feels people can beat drugs. She knows that drugs can consume you unless you find the strength and will to come clean.

Lena hopes to maintain a positive lifestyle and continue moving forward. She keeps positive through finding things to keep herself busy, such as doing activities including walking, art and craft. She is very determined to not fall back into old habits, knowing she has worked too hard to throw it all away.

For the first time in her life, Lena is so proud of how far she has come and is still going. It proves that anyone with a drug addiction can get clean, they just need to want it.