Kate* has just marked five years in recovery and knows first-hand the anguish of battling ice addiction.
She went through drug withdrawal at home — at the time there was no rehab available in central Queensland.
"It was a long and hard process … but it was well worth it."
For years, the Rockhampton community lobbied for an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment centre so patients did not have to travel hundreds of kilometres to the nearest service, or go without.
Now, in a first for Queensland, a facility encompassing an all-in-one withdrawal service, family accommodation and residential units has opened in the city.
Kate said the only support service available when she needed help was a once-a-month counselling service.
"The first time I tried, I went 100 days and then I went backwards and used again.
"It's really important that they [people who have addictions] have something close by that if they are ready to take those steps, that it's there for them."
Kate said she had now paid off half her family's mortgage, a feat she did not think would have been possible if she was still using ice.
"I would have learnt the steps that go along with getting clean and the different ways they can go about things."
Centre 'filled a gap in the map'
The new Queensland government-built facility is operated by not-for-profit Lives Lived Well.
Manager Mikel Gellatly said the 42-bed treatment centre was "a first of its kind" for offering the three services — withdrawal care, family accommodation and residential units — in one location.
"We support clients with that initial withdrawal period, which is often a bit of a challenge," he said.
"In most residential services, clients are required to have gone through that withdrawal period before they arrive.
"That can be challenging, particularly when there are limited residential withdrawal beds in the state, so having that on site is a game changer for us."
Mr Gellatly said prior to the centre's opening, the nearest residential clinics were in Mackay or the Sunshine Coast.
He said the centre accepted self-referrals and prioritised central Queensland patients, but it would consider referrals from across the state.
Mr Gellatly said half of all clients' primary concern was alcohol, closely followed by methamphetamine and then cannabis.
About 95 per cent of all people who completed their support at the withdrawal unit then went on to residential treatment.
The service is named Binbi Yadubay which is from the traditional owners of the site, the Darumbal people.
It means "healthy beginnings".
Community concern caused delays
The state member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga, began campaigning for the service in 2016 after meeting with a local support service for families affected by ice.
The Queensland Government committed $14.3 million to the facility in 2017, but Ms Lauga said community concerns over the original planned location close to homes delayed operations.
"There was lots of uproar from some people in the community who were afraid of a facility like this," she said.
The new location is tucked away on the city's north side with basketball courts, gardens and a yarning circle for holistic treatment.
"Now that the facility is open, it really does demonstrate that we don't need to be afraid," Ms Lauga said.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
