‘You almost died’: Safe drug use saves lives in Australia

Now clean of drugs and saving to buy a home with his fiance, Saade Melki says his life was saved by medical staff at MSIR in North Richmond, Melbourne, Australia [Courtesy of Conor Ashleigh/Harm Reduction International]

Melbourne, Australia – Saade Melki started using heroin the same week his father passed away. He was 24. Over the next 20 years, the Lebanese-Australian struggled with addiction.

He also struggled with holding down jobs and grew distant from friends and family. He would get clean and had multiple relapses as he tried to kick his addiction.