Robyn Lewis ‘heartbroken’ over lack of action after giving evidence at ice inquiry

Robyn Lewis broke down as she told the 2019 ice inquiry about her 16-year addiction to the drug. Three years on, she’s “heartbroken” nothing has been done to stop the ice scourge.

Robyn Lewis spent 16 years struggling against an addiction to ice that almost “wrecked” her life.

She was diagnosed with a myriad of health issues and was constantly unwell. Then she woke up one morning after a bender six years ago and threw her drugs in the bin.

“Being an addict isn’t fun,” she said.

“It’s a full-time job trying to get your hands on drugs, it’s depressing, lonely and completely wrecks your self-esteem.

“I knew I would die if I didn’t stop.”

Ms Lewis has been clean for six years and her life now is a far cry from who she was two decades ago.

Robyn Lewis before and after beating her addiction.

“I just bought a lovely home. I’m a gym junkie who exercises every day and I’m so, so happy in myself,” she said.

The 57-year-old knows how hard it is to beat the cruel habit. In 2018 she told the East Maitland leg of the 2018 ice inquiry of her past struggles and the severe difficulties in getting help.

“Going to rehab isn’t like what you see in the movies,” she said.

“You’ve got to get to a point where you want help, then you’ve got to call a rehab facility, put your name down and wait to hear back, which can take months and months.”

She was supported by a group therapy program she found on her own when she decided she wanted to stop using but said there was no real support outside of finding services on her own.

“I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired,” she said.

“I made it out the other side of a 16-year addiction and not a lot of people can say that.”

Following the inquiry in 2019, Ms Lewis did talks and hosted programs to offer her help to other people suffering with addiction – but recently she stopped, completely disheartened by the state government’s lack of action in adopting any of the more than 100 recommendations.

Robyn Lewis shared her story about how she recovered from a deliberating drug addiction to people across the state. Photo: Contributed

“The government has heard exactly how bad this problem is. People are dying from this addiction but they haven’t done anything to fix it,’’ she said.

“I felt like I was banging my head against a wall – there is only so much one person can do to help when the powers that be won’t step up.”

She believes more rehab facilities need to be set up across the state – particularly in regional areas – and wants greater mental health support for people struggling with addiction.

“What people don’t understand is how bad the mental health gets for people on ice,” she said.

“There’s constant suicidal thoughts. You just hate yourself for who you’ve become and the things you’ve done.”

Standing in front of the inquiry four years ago was an experience Ms Lewis still remembers vividly and one that took a lot of guts.

“I stood in front of people who I’d never met and talked about the lowest point in my life,” she said.

“It was completely traumatic and I had to be held by a friend because my emotions were so strong.

“For that to be worth nothing, for nothing to have been done up to now … it’s heartbreaking.”