'Taking Subutex was the best thing that's ever happened to me'

Stuart's story

Prior to joining WithYou, Stuart had previously tried to overcome his challenges with heroin but found himself unable to move forward. "I’d been out of rehab three times before I contacted WithYou," says Stuart. "I managed to do the detox, but I struggled with the aftercare."

After contacting WithYou in Cornwall, Stuart was assigned a recovery worker and soon started to feel positive about the first stage of his treatment.

"WithYou have been really supportive," says Stuart. "Even before I started treatment, I was offered added support - mental health support, support with probation appointments as well as the offer to take me shopping. They’ve just been brilliant."

"When I joined WithYou, I started working closely with my recovery worker. What helped me was that my worker was really hands-on, and wanted to engage and get me to appointments - having the extra support and someone to talk to really helped."

As well as the support he received from his recovery worker, Stuart was invited to attend MAP meetings at his local service.

"Hearing and seeing people from different backgrounds talk about their challenges, and the similar paths they’ve taken before finding out about WithYou really helps, especially when you’re having a bad day and you think that you’re the only one going through it."

Stuart discussed his existing treatment plan with his recovery worker and decided to make the jump from methadone to Subutex to see if it would have a positive impact on his life. It did.

"Initially, I was taking methadone, but then I swapped to Subutex. I had to pick up (and take) two tablets daily from the chemist, but I was struggling with this, as I was seeing other users, which wasn’t helping my recovery," explains Stuart.

"I told my worker about this, and they mentioned a monthly injection which didn’t involve me needing to go to the chemist. I’ve been having monthly injections for the last three months, and I haven’t thought about using heroin."

Stuart is now two months sober, and he credits the support he has received from WithYou and the use of Subutex as part of his treatment as being vital to his overcoming his challenges with heroin.

“Taking Subutex was the best thing that ever happened to me because it’s taken all the cravings away," explains Stuart."

"For anyone thinking about making the change, just do it. Stick with your recovery worker and listen to what they’re saying to you. Subutex has helped me think clearly and I really recommend it."