Robbie Mason was thrown out of home at just 10 years of age and left to fend for himself. He was 12 when he had his first hit. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
Mason is articulate, open and warm. He’s dedicated himself to drug reform advocacy but says using heroin used to be his “full-time job”. The powerful synthetic opiate has been used overseas as an opioid replacement therapy for people experiencing chronic heroin addiction for whom alternatives such as methadone or buprenorphine might not have worked.scrapped plans for a second medically supervised injecting centre
Trial participants attend twice a day. They take an oral dose of methadone and then self-inject hydromorphone under supervision.“We went from having no money in the bank to having hundreds of dollars when we got paid again,” Mason says. Sydney’s hydromorphone trial is overseen by Prof Nadine Ezard, the clinical director of St Vincent’s drug and alcohol service.Prof Nadine Ezard, clinical director of St Vincent’s drug and alcohol service, in the injecting room where trials with hydromorphone are taking place.Ezard says the trial allows people to access an approved, pharmaceutical-grade drug that doesn’t come with the risks associated with an unregulated and illegal market.
“It’s all about connections. That’s what clients are getting, as opposed to a standard treatment program,” Rogers says.