In episode 8, our final one, we meet Shae. She challenges our perceptions of what it is to be an injecting drug user. Shae is happy, full of life and joy, has raised a family, and has has no intention of stopping her use.

It’s interesting how challenging the very honest story of someone who is happy injecting drugs and has no plans to stop can be.

Shae is charismatic, confident and has this way of lighting up a room.

This final story really challenges us to pack away those stereotypes. You just can’t ever know who anyone is or why they do what they do unless you sit on the back step and listen to who they are.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In episode 7 we meet Digby, he is a journalist. He’s educated, well travelled and someone who has been very successful in his career. Digby is in his late 60's, possibly early 70’s . It’s hard to tell because he’s a really fit and healthy man and could easily pass for early 60’s. Digby doesn't use drugs anymore having stopped being an injecting drug user over 45 years ago i nthe 1970's.

Digby talks about what is to be open about drug use, and how even though its historical, it still impacts on his life today.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In episode 6 we meet Heidi. She’s arrived with cake her Mum has made for her to bring to our interview. It’s clear Heidi is really nervous. She could be your kids’ primary school teacher. She’s a softly spoken and slightly self conscious and she’s worried that she’ll make mistakes.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In episode 5 we meet a couple, Manni and Heydon. It’s clear they’re very much in love as all through the conversation they hold hands and reach out to each other for support. They finish each other’s sentences. They have this very tangible intimacy - it’s clear they’ve been through a lot bot hindovidually and as a couple.

A warning for anyone listening. There are some tough moments in Heydon’s story. This episode does talk about suicide.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In episode 4 we meet Luke, an indigenous man, who tells us drugs were part of how he dealt with how his sexuality impacted his life within his community.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In episode 3 we meet Nicky who has had some really big emotional upheavals in her personal life that have impacted on her drug use.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In episode 2 we chat with Marco a young man. He’s nervous but he's a really personable, chatty, friendly and really open. He could be someone that you might meet at the garage when you get your car serviced. He’s very much your regular Aussie bloke. Drugs have been a big part of his life for quite some time.

We hear about the challenges of stigmatisation and how it impedes people's ability to manage their usage.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.

In our first episode of Daily Dose, we meet Megan. She is a bright, funny and articulate 26-year-old. The type of person you immediately warm to. We discover how she first started injecting and then how her life went from there.

Daily Dose

Telling the stories of real people who do or have injected drugs. How they started, their fears, the stigma around their drug use, and how they struggle to be accepted and to have the health and social equity the rest of us take for granted.

Mandy Nolan and Dr George Catsi give a voice to their lives and circumstances, looking behind the stigma.