Dispensing wisdom by combining advice from those with lived experience of drug addiction, like Mr Nuttall, and treatment from trained clinicians, the Power in You Project has assisted 300 people.

The Addy spoke to two participants to find out why the program changed their lives when formal rehabilitation didn’t, Chad Van Estrop reports.

RYAN Winter was a daily drug user for the best part of a decade but now a brimming smile reveals a positive outlook on life.

In and out of jail until his release in 2017, Winter’s life hung by a thread.

“I was on the ropes with my family. I had a daughter who was born and I couldn’t see her when I got out of jail,” the 38-year-old tells the Addy.

“I was anxious that I was going to stuff up again when I was out.”

When others in his life had written him off, Winter is thankful Nuttall saw the good in him following a referral from a case worker.

“Kane saved me, my family and my whole life pretty much.”

A two-year participant in the program that offers a chance to rebuild a life through social connections, Winter says he stayed engaged because of perspective it offered from those with lived experience of addiction.

“It’s all about looking to the future not about what you’ve done in your past,” the Waurn Ponds dad says.

“It’s not a negative program that brings up the wrongs you’ve done.”

Winter who went through “draining” drug and alcohol treatment courses, for ecstasy, speed and ice use, says there’s one major difference with the Power in You Project.

“You are not being pressured to be there. After two weeks of the program I wanted to go everyday I could.”

Winter — who is five years sober, works full-time in construction and has custody of his daughter — is a shining example of the strength of the Power in You Project.

“Life is a lot better and you look back on (the drug use) and wonder ‘why the hell did I even do it’.

“Everything was so unhappy, so stressful. Always having to look over your shoulder for police. Now it’s such a relief.”

DATA from drug treatment and research centre, Turning Point, shows ambulance attendances for crystal methamphetamine-related events in the City of Greater Geelong more than quadrupled in the six years to June 30, 2020 from 41 in 2013/14 to 173 in 2019/20.

Greater Geelong’s ambulance ice call-out rate was twice as high as the regional Victorian rate in 2019/20, according to Turning Point data.

The data puts the rate at 66.81 attendances per 100,000 people in Greater Geelong in 2019/20, compared to the regional Victorian rate of 31.35.

Long wait lists for residential rehabilitation and detox programs mean some people are left to battle addiction on their own while they wait.

But that’s where the Power in You project, that is voluntary for those who want source help, intervenes.

Starting from one client in 2017, the Power in You Project has grown to have 80 men and women on its books today.

Addiction support within the program comes from a peer-led group which focuses on “tomorrow rather than yesterday”, and helps rebuild life skills lost during addiction.

The program, which is philanthropically funded and runs seven days a week, includes mental health support; a women’s group offering a welcoming space to create connection and to access support. It focuses on participants making positive and lasting change.

Physical fitness through personal training sessions, self defence lessons, art therapy, a breakfast club, regular social activities to encourage participants to step outside their comfort zone are also included.

There’s also help for participants if they want to work, study or volunteer.

Staff members like Mick Graham, who has overcome his own heavy addiction to ice, bring lived experience to the program.

A participant’s stay in the program can be as long or short as they are comfortable with in recognition recovery from addiction isn’t a straight forward exercise.

NATHAN Jones has learnt how to smile again.

He’s buoyed by his role as an uncle and the chance to create a new life with his partner.

Talking to the Addy, the realisation hits for the 27-year-old just how much his life has improve after he kicked a daily ice habit that crippled his life for three years.

“I was a scared young man being such a heavy drug user,” Jones says.

He recalls with some embarrassment the time, high on ice, he spun out of control in a hospital waiting room.

There’s also the time he slept for an entire weekend after a week-long bender came to a crashing end.

“I even forgot how to socialise being sober.

“I was just determined towards the end of (the program). I was sick of feeling like shit all the time; and being depressed and anxious; and having suicidal thoughts.

“Using everyday, it’s a tiring, tiring gig. I had good support around me thankfully.”

Jones, now four years sober, is the leader of a disability support house in Geelong where he co-ordinates staff and cares for residents.

He says the Power in You Project helped him find purpose and a renewed outlook on life.

“Kane believed in me. I didn’t really think I could get sober” the Belmont lad says.

“He had a cooking program every Friday. That gave me like a good sense of purpose.

“Even if I did fail or there was times where I wanted to give up. Kane’s line was always open.”

POWER in You Project founder Kane Nuttall, who lost twelve years of his life to drug addiction, now has a steely resolve to encourage and offer a helping hand.

The program he’s nurtured across five years, offers life assistance to people with disabilities; those who have been to jail or are on community-based court orders; and those battling addiction.

“The last six months the program has really ramped up.

“We just progress the participants at their pace. We have people that come for two weeks or people that stay for two years.

“The beauty of it. There’s no waiting list and there’s no time limit.

“It’s all about trying to continue positive steps forward and understanding that there will always be bad days, doesn’t matter who you are.”

Nuttall wants to expand the program that he knows can make a difference because of the community it creates.

“It’s all good and well to be off drugs while you are in jail, in rehabilitation or on the outside but you need to have community or else you’re just thrown to the wolves.

“We pride ourselves on being that point of connection.”

To join the Power in You project visit www.thepowerinyouproject.org.au/contact