"Substance use support"

I have just had my final appointment with my recovery worker, Vicki.  I have worked with her since last year. I was encouraged by social services to get some support around my substance use problems as it was impacting on my life in many ways, particularly my parenting and my mental health.  I am very thankful to have had Vicki and the help and support she has given me to make changes and to leave the drugs behind.

She always treated me like a human being not viewing me as a druggie, as someone who is mental.  She understood my mental health, past trauma or my drug use isn't who I am but part of the problems in my life, I never felt judged. 

I am grateful I got to change without a time frame as I felt nothing but pressure from social services to change overnight, I got to make my own choices and have experiences, like going to Willowdene day group and learning new skills and getting a certificate.  It seems small and silly but when you don't have a lot and struggled at school small achievements make you feel great. 

Vicki and the recovery work supported me practically, emotionally and mentally to make changes and I really feel without this I think the outcome for my children would have been different and I am still a part of their lives.