Addicted to Ice Reggie Yates: Hidden Australia

This programme contains strong language.

Crime authorities today warned that Australia is in the grip of

an epidemic of the drug ice,

with a massive surge in its supply on our streets.

Excuse me, mate. Can you tell me what's going on? Do you know?

Um... One guy got murdered.

And just before that,

they heard a loud scream or something.

-NEWS PRESENTER:

-A manhunt is under way for a 29-year-old

wanted over the murder of a St Kilda resident in his apartment block.

Detectives say the victim was killed in a brutal targeted attack.

What are the chances that it's drug-related?

Um... Very highly. Probably ice.

-Oh, really? Why?

-Because most of the time people get murdered over ice.

Australia is in the grip of an ice pandemic.

And, of course, the drug has been linked to serious violent crime.

-So this area is dangerous for it, then?

-Yeah, it's highly dangerous.

Ice is the purest and strongest form of methamphetamine.

Its use has increased in Australia by 300% over the last five years.

'It's worse than heroin. It's worse than cocaine. It's worse than LSD.'

It's much more addictive, much more dangerous, much more damaging.

I think the police are about to make a statement now.

It's a pretty brutal attack, so we're working on the principle that it was targeted.

'A highly addictive drug and a deadly crime on my doorstep.'

I woke up 90 minutes ago, and this is my first morning in Melbourne,

and not only do I wake up to Lewisham weather,

but I've woken up to this -

blue lights in the alleyway behind the hotel.

And it's a murder.

'So why are so many Australians addicted to ice?'

Australia has never faced a drug like ice before.

Mate, you just sit over there for me?

Cheap to produce, highly addictive,

and a gateway to chaos and broken lives.

That building is called Gatwick House.

'It's a hostel with a bad reputation...

'..but a good place to start.'

-How are you doing? I'm Reggie.

-Hello.

-Hello. This is sis?

'Gatwick House is run by twin sisters Rose and Yvette.'

-It's really busy.

-Actually, today's not bad.

We very rarely have a room vacant, cos this is usually the last resort.

What's your name, mate?

How long have you lived here?

How big a problem is ice?

Many residents are drug addicts...

..bingeing on ice in their rooms,

and then disappearing for days.

This is a tiny room, but this is one day's mess.

This is one day?

Do you not want to be a bit more safe picking up needles?

I think that, I'm getting used to as well.

-Is that a regular occurrence for you?

-Needles? Yeah.

Yeah.

How bad a problem is ice here?

-Ice is such an epidemic.

-You use the word epidemic.

Is that justified when it comes to ice, or...

-I think so, yeah.

-..is that an exaggeration?

No, no, I think it's an epidemic.

Have you noticed a change in this business at all as

the popularity of it has gone up?

Yeah. People argue a lot more.

They're becoming much more violent than they ever were before...

..which makes it harder.

Ice can cause violence and psychosis...

MAN MUMBLES

'..a new high at the sharp end of drug use, whether snorted,

'smoked, or injected.'

Oh, my God.

Drugs hold a bit of a strange place in my memory and my upbringing,

really.

I was a kid that never really did anything,

and never got involved in anything.

I say "never really did" - I've never done anything.

I've not even smoked a cigarette in my life, let alone taken a drug.

So, you know, I've never looked down on anybody who uses,

but I've struggled to understand it.

'A quiet suburb of Melbourne.

'The last place you might expect to find an ice addict.'

I didn't actually have any expectations as to where

I'd be turning up to.

But I am a little surprised that the Satnav has brought me

to manicured lawns and really pretty little houses and quiet streets.

-Hello.

-How're you doing? Reggie.

-Sharni. How're you going?

-Nice to meet you, Sharni.

'Homeless for three months, 23-year-old Sharni,

'staying with her aunt Cherie, the night before going into rehab.'

When did you actually start taking drugs?

-14.

-14.

Well, it was fun then. It's not now.

With ice, you know, I started to use it quite frequently.

How much were you taking?

At one point I would have been high pretty much 20 hours out of 24,

I reckon.

In front of me I see a well-kept, well-spoken, articulate young lady.

Just looking at you, there are no giveaways.

I was a very heavy user, and still people couldn't tell.

I could hide it very well.

So what's got you to the point of knowing that rehab

is where you need to be?

I have two babies who are three years old.

I became homeless.

I had to give my children to my auntie to take care of.

And now I just want my family back.

You've clearly been a rock for Sharni here,

but Sharni's not actually mentioned Mum or Dad.

Well, Sharni and her mum don't talk any more.

And Sharni wasn't raised by her dad.

Unfortunately, me and my mum have had

a pretty rocky relationship since I was young.

I grew up in a house where there was addiction too,

so I believe that's, you know, partly to blame as well.

What kind of addiction?

Drug addiction and alcohol.

That taught me that if I take this, I won't feel anything.

'Sharni's addiction has made it difficult to cope with her sons,

'so Cherie has been looking after them both.

'But Sharni wants them back.'

I don't believe I would be here if it wasn't for my kids.

I wouldn't be here.

I would've tried to kill myself, or I would've killed myself, by now.

You already tried once.

When?

-It wasn't all that long ago.

-About a month ago.

Because I was homeless, and I hadn't seen my kids in so long,

and seeing them and having to say goodbye to them, and knowing that I can't...

You know, I'm not the one to put them to bed,

and I'm not the one to provide for them, and...

I just didn't want to do it any more.

It's hard.

Yeah, it's very hard.

What do you want for your niece?

To get better. I don't want to have to raise her boys.

I love them, but I want her to raise them.

Do you want to take ten minutes?

-I just want to sit outside and get some fresh air.

-Yeah.

-How are you doing? I'm Reg.

-How are you going, man? Dylan.

'Sharni's friend Dylan has come to wish her good luck.'

Hello.

'No stranger to ice, he moved out of Melbourne to get away from the drug,

'and its effects.'

Need to stop...ice?

Yeah, everything, pretty much.

Listen, this might sound like an incredibly strange request,

but I'm really interested to see where you might have bought

ice from, and where you might have done it.

I can probably show you, like, places we would use.

-There are dealers...

-There are dealers that live along this road, yeah.

Apparently.

Allegedly.

That's crazy to me, cos this just looks like the road

that your aunt lives on.

Do the residents try and shut down the properties

or call the police on them?

Just pull into one of these driveways here.

Just pull into one of these?

On your last night before you actually skipped town

and moved away, did you have that one last hit?

Yeah.

How about you, Sharni?

This is your last night before you actually go into rehab.

Do you think you'll smoke tonight?

I have an ice pipe on me.

Now, I don't understand addiction.

I've never taken the drug that you're talking about,

but it seems like tonight would be a bad time to take this drug.

Am I completely wrong?

I understand that you don't understand.

-But you have to understand that you can't understand.

-Hmm.

Can I see the pipe?

There's some brown stuff in there. Is that it?

Yeah.

So what do you think when you look at this, then?

Ashamed...

that that's my addiction.

Why is it shame? Why is that the feeling?

I really did struggle to understand why Dylan or Sharni

would be tempted to use tonight.

It just feels like the worst way to start a journey to recovery.

At this stage, I'm not sure if I will ever truly understand addiction,

because to understand addiction on some level,

you have to have had some sort of experience.

I just really hope that she doesn't use tonight.

'Not everyone addicted to ice has a family to support them.'

-Lam?

-Yeah?

-Could you come here for a minute?

See if I can find you some shoes, OK?

What happened to your shoes?

Um... Gave them away.

-Why did you do that?

-Didn't need them.

Why are you so happy?

It's my home.

How long have you lived here?

-Um, a while now?

-Yeah?

Yeah.

What are you on now?

Bit of heroin, bit of ice.

Do you work at the moment?

This is my work. I bum around.

Did you not have a job before?

-Yeah, I used to, yeah.

-What did you used to do?

-Cook. I used to cook.

-And how come you ended up stopping work?

-Needed a change.

And what did you change from being a cook to?

Um... A professional bum.

Can you show me your room, Lam? Can I see where you stay?

Do your parents know where you are now?

Do you mean... Are they passed away? What happened to your folks?

You don't have a relationship with them?

When was the last time you had ice?

When was the last time we had ice?

Today.

-Did you inject it?

-Yeah, we injected it.

-Oh, I see.

There's your needles there.

How long do you think you'll stay awake for?

Three or four days, a week.

-A week?

-Yeah.

So what does it feel like when you take ice?

When you whack it up,

you feel that there's the rush like the dopamine in your head releases,

and you feel like that for probably half an hour or so,

then the ice, just like speed, just takes you along the...

How much do you spend on it?

Whatever I've got, really. Yeah.

-Do you regret trying it, or starting it?

-No, no.

-Why no regrets?

-I love it too much.

It's a special drug.

-You almost refer to it as a friend.

-Yes, it is. My girlfriend.

One of my girlfriends.

-And how does your girlfriend treat you?

-Very well.

Yes, very well.

All right. Nice to meet you, Lam. Thank you.

How can you go from being someone with a career

and someone with a life to that?

I just don't know how that happens.

I've got a few things to tell you about ice.

'British backpacker Scottie has been staying at Gatwick House for a month.'

Ice is huge, and it's everywhere.

I've watched many people,

from people who are poor in the slums, to people

who have multinational jobs, try it once,

and not be able to put the pipe down.

Do you really believe that one hit is all it takes to become hooked?

I've seen it. I've seen it.

'The results are often unpredictable,

'and sometimes violent.'

MAN SHOUTS

'Hoodie was stabbed in a fight over drugs.'

So are you playing nurse to your friend at the moment?

When I was younger I was a surf life-saver in Aussie,

and I do rescue diving and stuff, so I have basic first aid training.

Do you mind if I wander with you?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Yeah, we'll give it a quick wash with some soap and water.

Now, the water in the Gatwick is amazing. Really hot.

How long have you been using ice for?

'Australia has strict border controls.

'It's also far away from the main centres of heroin

'and cocaine production.

'Ice has filled the vacuum.'

Do you think that's part of the problem? That it's so easy to make?

-Part of the problem is the addiction to it. It's so high.

-And rapid.

And yeah, before you know it, you have one hit, drink, snort,

it doesn't matter how you take it...

Stick it up your arse, you're still taking it.

Do you take it?

I have in my life, yeah.

-So you guys were about to use?

-Yeah.

If the cops come, I'll smash them on camera.

-Don't do that, darling.

-No, I will.

-When was the last time they raided?

Yesterday.

And what did they get?

OK, this is ice.

So where would you buy something like ice from, then?

I don't like it, mate.

I'd hate to think my kids were ever subject to it.

If I ever found any of my kids...

If anyone sold my kids anything,

I'd take a pump-action and shoot them in the head point-blank.

It's my pleasure, my darling.

I'm a medic. Let me help you.

'I actually don't quite know what to say off the back

'of seeing Jasmin use.'

You know, the first thing that she said after she finished using

was that she hates it.

And she doesn't want her kids to know that she does it.

I'm pretty sure a lot of people feel the same way about the drug...

..because so many people are using it.

It's ripping this flipping country apart.

MAN SHOUTS

It's really weird. I feel like I'm suddenly in LA.

This place looks like some of the most expensive streets in Beverly Hills.

I mean, look at this place. Look at that.

It's where the Fresh Prince grew up, wasn't it?

'Another Melbourne suburb, and home to another young Australian.

'A former business executive, caught in the grip of ice.'

-Brett.

-Reggie. Nice to meet you. Look at this place.

We've caught you right in the middle of a refurb show.

Four years doing this. Yeah.

Four years is a long time to renovate a place.

Four years is a long time to be living through this.

-What are these medals for?

-They're all Australian medals.

'28-year-old Brett was not just a successful businessman.

'He also represented his country as a triathlete.'

That was 2009 World Titles.

-Whoa. Oh, my God, is that you?

-That was me, yeah. At my drug worst.

OK, this looks like a completely different person.

So how do you go from the podium to this?

I got caught up with ice.

How was ice actually introduced to you?

A friend of mine in the corporate world. Yep.

OK, so were a lot of people in business using?

Yeah. 100%.

I know if I walk through a room of 100 people,

I know 100% that there's at least 15 of them that have either

been on it, touched it, been involved with it.

You can reply to more e-mails. You get more deals done.

I use this as a tool.

A tool that took my entire life away.

You know, we talk back of you looking at me at the World Titles,

I'd never touched a drug in my entire life.

In fact, I was really critical of people with addictions.

So, are you still using now?

Um, the last time I used was probably three weeks ago.

Part of the closure for this will be closing the chapter on this house.

This is the place where I resorted to drugs,

and so that will always remind me of that.

The problem is, I struggle to get up.

I have no motivation, and that drug would get me up,

and I'd get a bit of work done on the house,

and I'd do some things, and that's where I'm at.

I might have kicked the day-to-day habit,

but I'm not free of that drug.

I do not have control of the addiction. I know I don't.

Where the hell are you buying that kind of drug in an area like this?

I mean, are you buying it here?

Or are you travelling out for hours to try and find it somewhere else?

Mate, this drug does not discriminate. I could buy it here.

I could buy it...suburb next door.

Or we could travel to areas that are not nice places and buy it.

It does not discriminate.

'What Brett's told me today has scared me,'

because at the age of 23, 24, he and I were no different.

'He did a hell of a lot for himself for quite a young age.'

And he hadn't touched drugs up until that point.

And then he made a decision,

and the rest of his life has gone in a completely different direction.

The number of regular ice users in Melbourne

has doubled in the past year.

There are now 80,000 addicts across the state of Victoria.

Hey, dude, you all right?

I'm OK, I guess.

'It's rehab day.'

Last night, when I left you,

it felt like there was a good chance that you might have used again.

-Did you?

-I came straight home.

So why didn't you fall into the trap of using again last night?

Yeah.

'Separated from her kids for 90 days - Sharni's having second thoughts.'

Oh, my God.

Cherie, how long have we got before we have to leave?

I don't want to go to rehab right now.

It's nearly time to go, isn't it?

Why the fuck is no-one listening to me?

I said I don't want to fucking go.

-You're going.

-I'm not ready to fucking go, like, right now. What?

I don't want this to be filmed, because I'm in a shit mood.

She's changing her mind about going?

You don't mean that, do you?

I'm going to get a fucking iced coffee,

and no-one's going to stop me from doing that.

-Listen.

-I'm not fucking in rehab right now.

So last night, was there a reason that the using didn't happen?

Well, it did, but we really mucked up that night,

to be honest.

Just you?

No.

Pardon?

-And did you have it or did she or did both of you?

-Both.

OK?

No.

Looks pretty, though.

Yeah. Beautiful.

I don't know how I feel. I'm fucking just really... I feel sick.

I feel like I just want to get out of the car and just stop.

-All right, go on.

-Let's get some air.

You take as long as you need.

-Ready?

-Yeah.

SHE SOBS

It's OK, Sharni.

This is it.

'The reality of rehab.

'Three months away. No family, and no drugs.'

Fuck's sake.

Steadily, Sharni's crutches are falling away one by one.

First it was Dylan this morning, and then it was the pipe.

Next it will be her family.

It's going to get very difficult and very real quite quickly, I think.

-Now she's not coming out.

-Why is she in the car?

-Not coming out.

-What? She wants to go home?

-Mm-hm.

I'm almost inclined to say let's just leave her, and I'm sure

they'll know how to manage this better than we ever could.

Do you want to head inside?

-You want to go to the car, right?

-Yep. I don't know what to do.

-I think we should head inside.

-All right.

I just want to be with her, and I just want to stay,

but I know I can't.

Yeah.

-She's where she's supposed to be.

-Yeah, I know. I know.

-I'm just being selfish.

-No, you're not.

You're just doing what you've always done,

and that is trying to be there for her.

-That's it.

-Mm-hm.

She's getting her out.

-You'll be fine.

-OK.

Come on, let's go and say hello to the community.

You've done amazing today.

All right, the longer you stay here the worse it's going to be for you. You should go.

My first psychosis. I was in the shower and I...

I saw this big, scary... Like a demon.

I kept looking and it was coming closer.

It had claws and all, man. I fucking ran out the bathroom screaming.

No clothes on.

And then obviously after seeing that, I'm like...

"I'm obviously in some sort of psychosis."

You know, what you're describing is...

About 60% of people who use ice develop some sort

of psychotic experience.

Ice is very bad for your brain. It's actually toxic for your brain.

People can develop a permanent psychosis.

I've been told every time, but I still do it.

Yeah, I know. I know. I understand.

Of course you do, because it doesn't matter what people tell us.

Even if we can have a psychosis, or you've got children that you love,

that's not enough to stop using drugs.

No, it's not.

As someone who's never taken a drug, let alone been addicted to anything,

I really am struggling to understand addiction.

What I'm thinking as I listen to you ask that question, Reggie,

is about trying to think about being in love with someone

who's really no good for you.

But you love them.

You love them, and every time they hold you, it's beautiful.

You feel safe and you feel fantastic, and you feel...

You know, different drugs all have different effects.

A heroin addict's just going to feel warm and safe and relaxed,

whereas an ice addict might feel euphoric, but whatever the drug,

it gives the individual that feeling of fulfilment.

But when we've been hurt when we're very young,

where our capacity to experience love or to trust people

in our lives is broken, then a drug can be very reliable.

-Police search warrant!

-Police search warrant!

-NEWS PRESENTER:

-Police swooped in in early morning raids.

Detectives say they've dismantled a major organised drug syndicate.

The syndicate was responsible for flooding the area with ice.

More ice is on the streets of Melbourne than ever before.

Over the past four years, driving under the influence of drugs

has caused more fatalities than alcohol.

Have you done a drug test before?

No? We're testing for methamphetamines.

The state government of Victoria are spending 17 million

on testing 100,000 drivers this year.

-You're deciding who to flag down, right?

-Yes.

Based on what?

Generally, the cars are not well-maintained,

but in saying that, you're still getting businesspeople.

There's a lot out there that you don't quite realise.

One in every 17 drivers randomly stopped

are testing positive for ice.

Random drug testing tonight.

Swipe these bits, just down your tongue a couple of times.

Yep. One more time. Perfect.

Your oral fluid contains a prescribed illicit drug.

I now require you to accompany me to the testing vehicle,

which is the bus over there.

The police have found traces of ice in his system.

He'll lose his licence, and faces a fine of up to £1,500.

It's hard to tell whether that helicopter is news or police,

but it's definitely over Gatwick House,

and staying in the area as well.

What did you say, buddy? DOOR SLAMS

RESIDENT MUMBLES

I could be completely wrong,

but it feels like the mood in here has completely changed.

'The police have arrived.

'They're looking for the murder suspect.'

The police have just come in with a news team.

-Do you know what's happening?

-With a news team?

-Yeah.

-I'll have to go and check.

-OK.

'Reportedly last seen in the building, on the run for three days.'

Now the police are here on this floor.

There's blood on the wall.

It's still red. It's fresh.

Yeah, we're from the UK.

Oh, mate.

I think they might be putting him in the car.

They've definitely got him.

I can't believe there's literally an axe murderer

in this building.

'The suspect is an ice addict,

'with a history of drug-related charges.'

Just a few miles and a world away from Gatwick House,

Brett has decided to check into rehab, in the city of Geelong.

Last time I was in Geelong I was racing in the Australian Titles.

-Really?

-Yep.

I was happy.

I was in a really good place last time I was coming out here to race.

In three months' time, you might be the happiest you've ever been.

I hope so.

"I will not bring any drugs or paraphernalia onto the premises,

"nor will I be under the influence of any narcotic.

"To permit a search of all belongings prior to entry and upon any re-entry."

So this is the contraband I pulled out.

-So it's things like iPad, your hard drive...

-And no cologne.

-No cologne, yeah.

-No cologne.

-Alcohol content is high.

-Wow!

"I will comply with medical exams as required.

"I will adhere to all curfew lights-out."

All right, this is you, man.

-How often do you find people withdraw just to their rooms?

-Quite often.

But the guys will try to pull you out, because it's all about

the therapeutic community, and talking to each other.

"It is my responsibility to attend all counselling sessions,

"and to comply with all aspects of the programme."

-What's your poison?

-Ice.

Oh, I see. Like most of us, I think.

BRETT LAUGHS Just out of interest, who's come here because of ice?

That's a lot of you.

What is it about ice that has affected so many of you?

It just... It really takes you.

Everyone has different stories, yeah.

It all comes down to the same thing.

We just want to get out of ourselves.

If we feel uncomfortable with anxiety or depression,

we don't want to feel these feelings.

And is that why ice is such a popular drug, do you think,

because it nullifies your emotions?

Yeah. It just pushes all those emotions and feelings to the back

of your head, but then once you actually become clean,

they come rushing forward twice as hard.

When you're on ice?

Are you prepared to deal with some of your deepest and darkest...

Um...

To uncover what it is that you've been running from?

Are you ready to do that?

I don't know what I'm ready for at the minute.

I really don't know.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, too.

-A pleasure.

Much appreciated, thank you.

'A standard treatment is three months.

'Detox for the first ten days, before therapy and counselling begins.

'Denial is often the biggest problem.'

You're clearly trying to find the right way to deal with this.

All these guys are here just purely to have gotten off the drug.

And I've gotten off the drug myself.

That part of it's out of the way, so...maybe I'm already at

my 90 days, and a bit of that's going through my head.

Do you think you shouldn't be here?

No, I don't.

I know I need to be here in the sense to what my problem was.

-I'm just hesitant in...

-"Was"?

Why would you describe it as past tense?

I'm not sure.

I'm leaving Brett on his first night,

and I'm honestly a bit concerned about him,

because he has pretty much decided that he doesn't need to be there,

to the extent of some of these other men, and 90 days is a hell of a long time

when you're sure that you shouldn't be there for ten.

For a week.

I just don't know if he's going to last.

'It's been a week, and Sharni's detox is almost over.'

How're you doing, Sharni?

I'm good. How are you?

One of these. How are you doing, love? Are you all right?

-I'm good.

-Hello. How's new girl getting on?

-Missing her babies, of course.

-Yeah.

But she's doing real well.

Well, the first week is all about detox, right?

How have you felt coming off of what you took before you came in?

I slept through it, so I didn't really feel coming off it,

but for the first time, I feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders,

because I'm not looking for my next hit,

and I'm starting to now feel that missing piece of me,

which is my children, which I didn't feel,

because I numbed that using ice, and I'm starting to feel guilty.

I grew up with addiction,

and I feel as if I was doing exactly what I grew up with.

It's everything I'm against.

Then where does that leave you, when you think about Cherie?

Because she's tried so hard to help you.

She's done everything that she can to help you, and it was

really difficult to see her leave, and, you know, she just had to walk away.

How do you feel about your relationship with her?

Without my auntie I wouldn't be here,

and my children would be suffering just like I suffered as a child.

That's all I aspire to be in life, is half the mother she is.

She is the best person I will ever meet.

Wow. I'm sure she'd love to hear you say that.

Do you know that Reggie has never had a cigarette?

He's never tried a drug. He's never had a drink.

-Never done any of that.

-That is awesome.

-It's weird.

-I commend you.

-It's weird, but it's cool.

-I commend you.

No, because I've always felt that it's a choice.

I genuinely came to the table believing that,

that you can say yes or no and that's it.

But in talking to lots of different people,

it feels as though trauma plays a huge part.

That's a massive part of our recovery.

It's getting down to those core reasons why we ultimately...

You disagree.

I don't disagree. I agree. But my problem was, I was a party animal.

I didn't have trauma. I just loved to have fun.

So I definitely agree,

but I think 80% is something that has shaped somebody's life

in some way, but then I think 20% is a stupid choice.

-Where's your room?

-My room's down here.

This is what Dylan gave me before I came in.

Nice.

-So I sleep with it every night.

-You're doing really well.

Believe it or not, you've been a motivation.

I've never met anybody that's never used anything before.

And you should be really proud of yourself.

You should be proud of yourself.

Some people might say I'm a control freak because I live my life

a certain way, and because I like things done a certain way,

and my house is always a certain way. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

No. Me not wanting to take drugs isn't about

me being scared of losing control.

It's actually about something very different.

I started in television when I was eight years old.

So before I was even in secondary school,

I was being told by my mother that I have more to lose than my mates.

So, you know,

I didn't want it to become the thing that prevented me from my dream...

..which, 25 years later, is this.

So I've always had that niggling voice in the back of my head,

and I'm really happy I've had it.

Ice-related crimes have doubled in Melbourne in the past year...

'..many committed by young addicts who have lost control

'of their lives.'

So has there been a change in what you've seen on the streets

since ice became such a popular drug?

We've seen an increase with the...

I suppose, the crime associated with that.

At some times violent crime,

because of the way the drug makes them behave,

or because they want to fund their habit.

-You just don't know what you're going to get.

-No.

'Just five minutes into another shift with the police,

'and a call comes in.'

It appears as though the vehicle is listed as being stolen.

Whether it is stolen or not, we will find out.

Which car is it? Is it the white one?

Yeah, that's him there.

I'll just get you to hang fire in the car for a minute.

I'll give you a nod if you can come out.

Phone off, buddy, now.

Mate, you just sit over there for me.

No way. That's Lam from Gatwick House.

So just sit there.

So what brings you to this area?

-Going for a drive.

-Going for a drive?

-Yeah.

Who does this car belong to? Do you know?

-One of these guys.

-Which one?

I don't know.

OK. Because this car's coming up like a stolen vehicle.

WOMAN SHOUTS

-Are you using at the moment?

-Yeah.

-What are you using?

-Ice, heroin, marijuana.

-Are you working at the moment?

-No.

-No?

So where are you getting your money?

From friends.

-You're not running around stealing stuff to finance your drug habit?

-No.

Stand up for us, and we'll have a quick search.

You've got no sharps on you?

-No.

-Why are you so jittery? You're shaking.

-Am I?

-Yeah.

Your arms are uncontrolled.

-Oh, OK.

-What are you so nervous about?

-Nothing.

-Come and grab a seat here in the gutter for us.

-Yeah.

How are you doing, man?

I didn't think I'd see you again here

in this situation.

So how do you know these guys?

Friends from the Gatwick.

Do you think that the Gatwick is the right place for you,

considering that your friends have brought you here?

It's very family-orientated there.

Pretty much everyone's pretty much family to me, there.

You still seem just as happy as you've always been.

I'm always very much happy, yeah.

Why is that?

Maybe I love life.

OK.

-Well, look after yourself.

-No worries, Reggie.

Take care. See you, buddy.

POLICEMAN READS CAUTION

How did you meet up with these guys?

-All those power tools indicate, I'd say, burglaries, or theft from other cars.

-Yep.

WOMAN SHOUTS

And how often are you seeing this, then? Ice-related crime?

Every day. Like, every day.

Drug addicts will steal to support their habit.

So it's a cycle.

They're all going to jail now, because that car's stolen.

It seems like crimes are being committed because of this drug.

Well, it doesn't "seem like". It's a fact.

It's what's happening.

It's my last day in Melbourne. So, is Brett still in rehab?

There seems to be quite a few empty rooms at the minute.

-Here's Brett.

-Hello?

Hello.

How are you?

I actually, being really honest,

didn't think I'd find you here today.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Really?

You seemed pretty much adamant that this wasn't where you needed to be.

-Yep.

-Has that changed now?

-Yeah.

You know, a big part of coming in here, as we spoke about,

was finding out what I was running away from.

-Do you feel closer to that now?

-100%.

-Yeah.

-I'm sorry. I'm interested.

What do you think it is that you've discovered in just the three days?

Everything in life, I'd just been trying to ach...

Nothing was enough. It didn't matter what race,

it didn't matter what achievement, nothing was enough.

Why is that insecurity within me, to have not...

Why was it never quite enough?

I mean, it's amazing that you feel as strongly as you do

after three days, cos it is really the beginning of your journey.

-All right, guys, take care.

-Fair play.

-Stay to the end, please.

-Yeah, I will.

-Hello.

-Hello, how're you doing?

-Hello.

-How're you doing?

-I'm good.

-You look lovely. What are you up to?

I'm doing some colouring-in.

I'm getting in touch with my creative side.

-It looks quite therapeutic, though.

-It is.

-It's because you're thinking about nothing.

-Quite calming, right?

You're thinking about what colour you're going to use next.

-So I'm really excited.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-That's good.

It's visiting day for Sharni.

In nine days, for you to turn around this much

really makes me excited about what might happen.

Go on.

THEY LAUGH

-Look at how happy she is.

-I've never, ever heard her say a bad word against that woman.

I don't think there's anything bad to say about that woman.

Just that she's the best. "I can't wait for you to meet her.

"Oh, my God."

Looks like someone saw Christmas morning when they saw you.

-How are you doing?

-Good, thanks.

-You all right?

-Good, yes.

-This is my beautiful auntie.

-Hello.

-Well done.

-Thank you so much for everything.

-Really proud of you.

Well done. Come on, now. Well done.

MUSIC DROWNS OUT SPEECH

It's been a pleasure, all right? Stay in touch.

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

I've heard addiction doesn't discriminate,

but to actually see people like Brett, like Sharni,

right the way through to the guys at Gatwick House,

all suffering from addiction to the same drug...

I don't know, it opens up the idea that this drug,

or addiction full stop, can land in anybody's lap.