USER'S STORY: HCV IN THE BUSH
I live in a large town in NSW, I've lived here most of my life. I'm 24 and I've been using for about 8 years now, mostly ice and oxies. I just started on Suboxone a few months ago, and that's going really well.
I'm one of those people who gets 2 boxes of fits every time I come to the Community Centre, even if I haven't finished the last 2 boxes. The Centre has a room full of equipment and you can just take whatever you want, so I do. I think it is important to have plenty of new fits. When I was using a lot I always made sure I was stocked up and that I carried freshies on me all the time. Even though I'm not injecting, I haven't got rid of the fits. People know I always have heaps, so they can come to me if they don't have any.
I have just been tested for hep C. I was with a mate and he needed to go to the AMS (Aboriginal Medical Service) so I went with him. He was getting tested and they asked me if I wanted to get tested too, and I thought it was a good chance to do it. I haven't got the results back but I'm pretty sure I've got it.
Last time I was in jail I used. It was the first time I had used in jail, but I went in sick and it was all there so I did it. I think the needle was cleaned with Fincol, I know there was Fincol around, but you know, I wouldn't have a clue how often they did it. I didn't do it. The truth is, I didn't know anything about the fit, where it came from or whatever. It was a cut off and had done the rounds a fair bit. It wouldn't have made any difference, so I didn't bother myself with it. It's what I needed to do at the time and I did it. But that's where I got hep C because it's the only time I've ever used someone else's fit.
Part of the reason I always have heaps of freshies is I never want to be in a situation out here where I pass on hep C. And having experienced a blunt jail fit and then being able to get a freshy every time, well you'd be an idiot if you didn't use a new one every time you use if you could. Outside I have never been in a situation when I didn't have a new fit for myself. I make it a rule never to give my last one away.
When I get the tests back, I want to go on treatment as soon as I can. I really want to be healthy.