Kathryn

Has a lived experience of addiction

My name is Katie and I’m 36 years young. I was 20 when I first started using. I quite quickly became an every day user. I was what I’d call a functioning addict. I raised 3 boys; all have Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I moved to Queensland from Sydney in 2017 as I lost my partner in a car accident.

Once in Queensland the drugs where cheaper so I started using more and more every day. I gave up my kids in January 2019. 2 days after I gave them up I went into psychosis and I went into the local mental health ward.

There I met a drug and alcohol counsellor. 2 weeks later I started the 12 week course they offer. I know work for the same organisation as a peer support worker in a local day rehab. I am 2 years clean.