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mads_jpg's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
As someone who spends a lot of time in Abbottsford, I only know the area post the establishment of the safe injecting facility, and it was unbelievable reading about just how far it's come. The place that Judy Ryan describes is unrecognizable.
This book is an amazing testament to how much impact a community can make when they band together, and ask "if not me, who?"
This book is an amazing testament to how much impact a community can make when they band together, and ask "if not me, who?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
augureader's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This was an educational book about a woman’s fight to introduce a safe injecting facility (SIF) in the Richmond/Abbotsford area in Melbourne. As someone who spent a long time working in Richmond, I was able to visualise many of the locations mentioned in this book. I didn’t know that much about SIFs and had previously an opinion without enough knowledge, so reading this book has put a lot of things into perspective for me. Overall, just a fascinating, informative read.
I’d recommend this one especially if you live in Melbourne.
brookesbookstagram's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Judy Ryan, a resident of South Abbotsford commenced a campaign for Victoria’s first safe injecting facility.
Victoria Street in North Richmond is synonymous with heroin use. It’s a hive for activity. It’s easily accessible, and with that Carrie’s the significant risk of overdose. People were overdosing daily, in the laneways, on the streets, in carports and peoples doorsteps. There was a significant pressure placed on local services, including ambulance, mica paramedics and fire brigades to attend multiple overdoses daily.
Judy, like many residents would intervene, help those in need, contact emergency services and provided first aid until help arrived. After watching so many overdoses, she decided enough was enough and started researching safe injecting rooms (SIR).
This book tells the journey of her research and campaigning, her lobbying within he local community, to parliament and how to see substance use as a health issue.
After multiple rallies, running as an independent in local elections, attending the Kings Cross SIR and multiple donations. The government changed the drugs, positions and controlled substances act in 2017 to allow a two year trial of a SIF.
My personal experience of working in North Richmond for four years in drug and alcohol was an eye opening experience. It was rewarding, challenging and confronting. I am so glad that Judy tirelessly campaigned for the SIF and we’re so lucky to continue to have a safe venue for those to use in a controlled environment and be supported by nurses, social workers, counsellors and access ongoing treatment and support. We need more SIFs to continue the ongoing risk of unnecessary death from overdose and encourage more people to access safe services.
Thank you Judy for everything you’ve done and continue to do.
Thank you to scribe publishing for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Victoria Street in North Richmond is synonymous with heroin use. It’s a hive for activity. It’s easily accessible, and with that Carrie’s the significant risk of overdose. People were overdosing daily, in the laneways, on the streets, in carports and peoples doorsteps. There was a significant pressure placed on local services, including ambulance, mica paramedics and fire brigades to attend multiple overdoses daily.
Judy, like many residents would intervene, help those in need, contact emergency services and provided first aid until help arrived. After watching so many overdoses, she decided enough was enough and started researching safe injecting rooms (SIR).
This book tells the journey of her research and campaigning, her lobbying within he local community, to parliament and how to see substance use as a health issue.
After multiple rallies, running as an independent in local elections, attending the Kings Cross SIR and multiple donations. The government changed the drugs, positions and controlled substances act in 2017 to allow a two year trial of a SIF.
My personal experience of working in North Richmond for four years in drug and alcohol was an eye opening experience. It was rewarding, challenging and confronting. I am so glad that Judy tirelessly campaigned for the SIF and we’re so lucky to continue to have a safe venue for those to use in a controlled environment and be supported by nurses, social workers, counsellors and access ongoing treatment and support. We need more SIFs to continue the ongoing risk of unnecessary death from overdose and encourage more people to access safe services.
Thank you Judy for everything you’ve done and continue to do.
Thank you to scribe publishing for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Mental illness
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