"Given good advice, and most of all hope, by RIOT"

I've been off methadone now for 5 months now the longest period since I started seeking treatment for heroin addiction 9 years ago. I've used many community substance misuse teams as I've moved up and down the country. In Cannock (Staffordshire) I meet a few people who were involved in something called RIOT (recovery is out there) who were clean + sober, this being something I've not heard of as they took the time out to speak to me about my life and how getting off methadone once and for all was a possibility as they themselves had done so, and were once sat there in my position living chaotically and on drugs.

After a few months of seriously thinking about it I asked for their help and got it. They helped me get into a treatment facility, helped me plan my detox and was at every appointment with my keyworker until I had reduced my script. Actually talking to people who have been through a programme and have been on the same drugs as you and know every situation you have been through or something similar makes a huge difference. Seeing them being clean + sober made me think "yeah maybe I too can do it" as the only people not on drugs you see at a CSMT is the doctor giving you your prescription. I was given good advice and most of all hope by RIOT and the recovery champions I saw.