"Drug ARM changed my life"

In 2019 I went into hospital in a drug induced psychosis. I was in a mental health ward and not sure what to do with the rest of my life. I had been an addict for 15+ years. I didn’t want to go to a residential rehab as I had children. So I was stuck with what to do for the future.

A lady came into the hospital and spoke about Drug Arms 12 weeks free drug and alcohol counselling program. I rang their central intake that day and 2 and a half weeks later I had my first appointment.

Leaving the hospital was very overwhelming and I wasn’t sure on how I was going to go being back in the community. I went to my first drug arm appointment, as anxious as I was. I sat in the office and hoped to hell that this is what was going to be needed to get me on the straight and arrow.

In my opinion, the counsellor was absolutely amazing and so full of insight. She helped me believe that things were actually possible for me. I started seeing a grief and loss counsellor to deal with the pain of why I was using. I also plucked up the courage, with my counsellor's support, to start volunteering at my local community center. It felt so good to be accepted back into the community again.  

I attended all of my appointments with Drug Arm and completed the program within 13 weeks. My counsellor stayed in contact with me on a regular basis. She even told me about an opportunity that had come up within the company for me to do some training to possibly gain employment in the future. I completed that weeks worth of training in later in 2019.

I never in a million years thought that I would gain employment. I’m an ex addict who would want to take on me? I am 2 years 8 months clean. I have been working now for 18 months and I have just started a diploma of Counselling. My life has changed so much and I know I owe it all the Drug Arm counsellor who took on a hopeless case.

I can’t recommend Drug Arm enough. I had nothing and no one and now I have more then I thought I could ever achieve. I believe it just takes one person to believe in you that makes the world of difference.