Justin’s Addiction and Recovery Journey

From chaos to clarity, Justin’s powerful story shows the life-changing effects of addiction treatment and the hope that emerges when you choose to fight for a better life.

I was born in Victoria and my family owned multiple panel shops growing up. I would say I had a fairly colourful childhood. Both of my parents were alcoholics. I view that as being a pretty normal Australian upbringing back then.

There was no definitive moment where I started to use substances.

I smoked cannabis every day from 13 or 14; after school with everyone else. Being at an all-boys private school, the place was littered with drugs.

We smoked cigarettes and soon it became cannabis and then cocaine.

At that age, it was one line a week, simply because we just didn’t have the amounts. Most of us were stealing it from our older brothers.

I was a bit of a fighter at school which meant I was always in trouble.

I was into motorbikes and naturally fell into the motorbike team at school too.

There was a lot of ecstasy and speed associated with that scene and it was always passed around.

When I was 16 years old, my old man completed suicide.

It later came out that he had been selling drugs out of his panel shops. The police were at our doorstep for months.

At that age, I didn’t really understand the story. Mum hid a lot from me and wouldn’t really talk about it.

From that point on, I started getting into heavier drugs.

We were always found in the emergency stairs of shopping centres smoking speed and causing a ruckus. I was a menace; we all were.

Considering everything I had been doing, I was kicked out of school for cigarettes believe it or not.

I tried another school for about a month, but that didn’t work.

So, I started a chef’s apprenticeship. Being a chef back then, you were doing 14 hour shifts 5 or 6 days a week and using drugs was common practice.

People thought you were a bit strange if you didn’t use.

The only repercussions were the come downs and being broke every Monday.

I finished my apprenticeship and was given the family house in Victoria.

I don’t know how it happened or when, but methamphetamine was soon the drug of choice, and it was everywhere.

About 3 months later, I gave up my job and became a full-time dealer for 2 and half years.

First, I was caught with an unregistered car and then I was assaulting police.

I was running completely on ego, and I honestly believed I was killing it in life.

I had the trophy girlfriend.

I always went to the casino with a ton of money.

Ultimately though, my life was derailing, and I was delusional.

The goal was always to escape my reality and there was never a good enough reason to stop.

I don’t think I ever experienced a drug induced psychosis, I don’t remember having any paranoia, but if you had of seen me, you would probably think otherwise.

After about 4 years of living that lifestyle, I had lost all of my inheritance. My shares were gone, and I was robbed twice.

All of a sudden, I went from being cash rich to desperate.

I started to go to a lot of the clinics in Victoria for 28-day detoxes.

Being in my 20’s, the driver for going was just to pick up women. But realistically, I was just being introduced to more drug addicts and heroin heaven hot spots.

I soon got to the point where I hated the life I was living.

I couldn’t do it anymore.

So, I started looking for a longer-term rehab.

Hader Clinic Queensland had just opened. This was my first admission, and I finished the program.

Everything was going well; I was clean for 2 years. But I found myself in a toxic relationship and I was later sentenced to prison.

I was so angry with my life, and I started using methamphetamine again and testing out GHB.

The hotel hopping was relentless.

I went to Hader Clinic Queensland a few more times over the next 8 years for 30-day stints. But my only reason for going was to tick a box.

I was doing the fellowship on and off for a few years in Brisbane too. But I had to remove myself from the environment I was living in.

So, I moved to the Sunshine Coast.

I was cheffing again and I was doing well. But I still felt so spiritually broken and I couldn’t control my emotions.

My life was becoming chaotic again.

You get to a point where you have tried everything on your own and nothing works.

I needed to go back to Hader Clinic Queensland for the right reasons and this time I completed the 90-day rehabilitation program.

I am now clean and sober.

I have always been one of those people who has to do everything the wrong way to figure out the right way.

Going to Hader Clinic Queensland this year, I have a new opportunity to do something in life that I am passionate about.

My goals now are to work in the mental health, youth, or disability space.

I love working with people.

I’m not here to give you a sales pitch, but at the end of the day, Hader Clinic Queensland saves your life.

Give it a month, the program is a guarantee.

The quicker you surrender yourself instead of fighting against the wash, the better the outcome.

You need to find yourself again.

I have always been welcomed and felt safe at Hader Clinic Queensland, it works if you accept their support.

Names and photographs of this client may have been changed to protect their privacy.

Dr Mel Symon

Director, Hader Group QLD

Dr Mel Symon is the Director of Hader Group QLD, leading both Hader Clinic Queensland and Hader Clinic Queensland Private. With more than 30 years of experience in human services and over 20 years as a founder and business leader, Mel has played a central role in establishing and growing Queensland’s leading addiction treatment services.

Mel holds a PhD in Addiction Treatment from the University of Queensland, along with a Master of Mental Health, Master of Professional Management, and a Bachelor of Social Science. Since 2016, she has overseen the development of the 40-bed Hader Clinic Queensland residential rehabilitation program and, in 2021, the creation and opening of the 25-bed Hader Clinic Queensland Private Hospital.

Passionate about lifelong recovery, Mel is dedicated to evidence-based care, meaningful change, and supporting individuals to rebuild their lives through sustainable recovery pathways.

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