We caught up with PAMS co-ordinator Sarah Lord to get the benefit of her years of experience in helping Victorians on OTP.

Check out what the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights and the NSW OTP Clinical Guidelines have to say about your rights.

‘Some people will need higher than usual doses of methadone or buprenorphine for it to work properly for them. This might be because they have a high tolerance or an unusually fast metabolism…. I’m simply happy to be on the program and not be a human pin cushion anymore.’

‘All opioids have a range of effects. Some are desirable and some aren’t.’

‘'Because you can’t talk about it anywhere else, talking about injecting methadone with your peers is important.’'

Be honest with yourself – are you ready?

‘The relief and validation of talking to peers who had been through the same journey was pure magic.’

This piece takes you through the main types of treatment available for health issues related to drug and alcohol use and the approaches they use.

Tips from those who've done it.

'After trying for so long, I realised I can’t do the abstinence thing so I have had to come to terms with my use.'

'I had the desire to change but I just didn’t have the tools to do it.'

'I needed to believe in a miracle cure.'

Here are some tips for coming off methadone from someone who learned the lessons along the way.