Meet Claire

A Journey of Strength and Transformation – Claire

For over two decades, she lived in the shadow of opioid dependency, navigating the revolving doors of drug services and the daily demands of methadone treatment. While methadone offered a degree of stability, it also tethered her to routines that kept her in the cycle of addiction. But two years ago, everything began to change.

She made the courageous decision to switch to Buvidal, a long-acting injectable treatment. This marked a turning point in her recovery. No longer bound to daily dosing, she found freedom—freedom from cravings, from the mental weight of addiction, and from the routines that had defined her life for so long. With this new space, she began to rebuild.

Supported by her key workers and care coordinator at Start, she focused on what mattered most: her children, her relationships, and her future. Over time, and with unwavering determination, she was able to come off treatment entirely. Today, she proudly lives substance-free—a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and the life-changing impact of the right support.

“It hasn’t been easy, but I am living proof that change is possible—even after decades in treatment.”

Her story is a beacon for others who may feel stuck or hopeless. Thanks to the Start service and the medication that helped her break free, she’s now living a life she once thought was out of reach.