Former teen drug addict changes his life, now helping others

FIRST pot, then speed, followed by ice. That was the downward spiral into drugs that led Kieran Billett to one of his darkest days. Life is different for him now.

Kieran Billett has turned his life around. Picture: David Swift

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FIRST pot, then speed, followed by ice. That was the downward spiral into drugs that led Kieran Billett to one of his darkest days.

The now 21-year-old believes the day he attempted to rob an elderly man armed with a knife to pay for his drug addiction was one of his lowest points. At the age of 19, he spent eight months behind bars for his crime and was thrown a lifeline by residential rehabilitation centre, ONE80TC.

There are 270 million people in the world struggling with drug abuse. 3.3 million die from addiction each year. Mr Billett thanks his lucky stars he now lives a drug free life.

Mr Billett was born into a normal, working class family. He had everything he needed. His first exposure to drugs was at four when his uncle died from a heroin overdose.

“Everyone in the family knew he had a problem but didn’t know how to confront it. (When he died) It devastated the family,” he said.

Fast forward a few years and Mr Billett found himself in Year 7 surrounded by friends but he wasn’t happy. “I didn’t like myself. Inside I was alone and disconnected,” he said.

Marijuana was the first drug Kieran tried.

Ice was Kieran’s main drug of choice as time passed by.

“I started using Facebook in Year 8 and realised how different I was. I was anxious, depressed and nervous. I started drinking alcohol from my grandmother’s house on weekends. No one knew.

“I did it to turn the negative thinking off.”

He connected with another uncle in Year 9 who was using drugs. “I was desperate, looking for answers, so I tried pot (marijuana).”

For six months he smoked up on weekends and got through school. Then he was introduced to speed. “It gave me confidence and made me feel good about myself. Then one day there was no more speed, just ice,” he said.

“I was told it was like speed but with all the good bits.” Mr Billett got to Year 10 and his schooling was going down the toilet. He fought with other kids at school, argued at home and spat hurtful words at his parents and younger sister.

“It was an outward expression of how I was feeling inside,” he said.

Kieran shares his story at the Conviction Group young men's health forum at Parramatta. Picture: The Moment Chris Photography

He landed an apprenticeship as a chef and knuckled down for nine months. He started using ice again and got to the point he couldn’t go to work unless he was using. “I was quick, fast, clear-thinking and didn’t need a lunch break when I was using. I was a full-blown addict by 17 — using everyday.”

His parents kicked him out after countless attempts to intervene and remedy the situation.

“I was using $1000 in ice a week and only earning $750 at work. The drug ended up making me feel paranoid. By 18 I was feeling suicidal.

“I was struggling to keep up with work and I lost my (driver’s) licence. I was at the end of my tether and needed some serious help.”

He reached out to his family who helped book him into ONE80TC the day after he finished his apprenticeship.

He checked out two months later, despite everyone advising him against leaving the 12-month program.

Kieran was destined for a life behind bars but he was thrown a lifeline by ONE80TC. Picture: David Swift

“I got clean but I didn’t change. The reason I turned to drugs hadn’t been dealt with. Within a week I was using ice again and in a fortnight I’d moved in with my drug dealer and turned to crime — dealing drugs and break and enters.”

He was thrown into jail at 19 for attempting to rob an elderly man on the street, armed with a knife.

“I was told no judge in the world would give me bail. They told me ‘you’re doing years’.”

He spent eight months in Silverwater and Bathurst prisons before ONE80TC came forward offering his spot back in the residential rehab program as an alternative being sentenced to jail. The judge agreed.

Mr Billett has finished the program and is six months into an internship with ONE80TC, helping at parole and probationary centres.

“For years I ran away from my troubles until they slowly consumed me.”

He was one of the speakers at last week’s Conviction Group young men’s health forum at Parramatta RSL, attended by hundreds of Year 10 boys from western Sydney.

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