"Opiate addiction and more"

After a multi-year long experience of life whilst being dependent on - initially - prescription opiates (oxycodone, morphine), then illicitly obtained opiates (illegally obtained oxycodone and heroin), which I had successfully kept hidden from all family and friends, I attempted suicide, during which I was saved by police intervention a few years ago. I lived in Brisbane at the time. I began seeing psychologist and psychiatrists in Brisbane, as well as receiving treatment on the Qld Opiate Treatment Program, however, I quickly relapsed and returned to illicit opiate use and continued to hide this, including from the Mental Health Practitioners with whom I was meeting regularly. At this point I had lost all financial stability, had been arrested, was having to move house regularly as I was prioritising my addiction over all else. I subsequently committed further (non-violent) criminal actions in order to obtain opiates, and these caught up with me just over  when I was again saved from suicide by police officers, who were executing a warrant for my arrest regarding fraudulent prescriptions. I served over 3 months incarceration, the first 10 spent in solitary confinement following a further dozen suicide attempts (after the police at the watchhouse observed a suicide attempt in my cell in the morning on their monitor). I went through full-scale heroin and oxycodone withdrawal in solitary confinement, completely medically unaided, without any normal creature comforts that incarcerated people are allowed (radios/television/books/pen/paper), for the period of ten days of my solitary confinement. After my release from the corrections centre, I returned to my home and sought out the services of a Mental Health Counsellor, which I was able to obtain at Lives Lived Well Kingaroy. I met with Andrew of LLW Kingaroy on at least a dozen occasions.

Unlike the other professionals I had spoken to, when I was continuing to use, people who were living and working in Brisbane, I found that, having grown up in a small town, that I got much more from speaking to a Counsellor who is also from a small town, and who was far more understanding and accepting than other professionals.

I received fantastic service at LLW Kingaroy, and particularly from Andrew. He supported me for many months and allowed me to feel "listened-to" and supported as I worked through my story and how I was feeling, and how I worked out life without opiates for the first time in three years. It was unbelievably beneficial to be able to honestly talk to someone in this way. He listened to my story (in far more horrific detail than that which I have detailed above), he did not seem to simply pity me or seek to explain to me in textbook terms what had happened or "the reasons" why this had happened, but have a real conversation with me about my life and what I had done and, more importantly, where I wanted to get to.

I cannot recommend enough how pleased I was to receive Mental Health and Addiction Counselling from Andrew at Lives Lived Well Kingaroy. Following the end of our journey, I met with his management staff and advised them of the quality service that Andrew had given me, and I was encouraged to write this review. I am more than happy to recommend the services of Lives Lived Well Kingaroy, and Andrew in particular, to any and all people who may be going through a difficult time. He helped me when I was at my lowest, and I never once dreaded an approaching appointment time.

If you are struggling with any of lifes challenges, based on my experience I recommend trying what I did, and talking to someone like Andrew at LLW Kingaroy.