'I don't feel safe': Locals lament about this open secret riddling their neighbourhood
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Disclaimer: This article discusses distressing topics such as substance abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
The harsh realities of drug addiction often remain hidden behind closed doors.
However, recent footage from Melbourne brought the issue into the stark light of day, as it illustrated the severity of the city's heroin crisis.
The footage, captured by a social media user named TJ, showed a scene that has been all too real for the residents of Richmond—the epicentre of Melbourne's heroin epidemic.
The video showed a woman injecting a man with what she describes as 'pure heroin' in the shadows outside the Richmond flats.
Moments later, the man starts to struggle—he stumbles on the floor, starts slapping himself, and writhes on the ground in distress.
The woman's voice, filled with regret and urgency, can be heard in the footage.
'He just had a whack of pure heroin. I shouldn't have given it to him, f***. Any Narcan?' the woman asked as she sought a life-saving antidote for opioid overdoses.
This raw and unfiltered glimpse into the impact of heroin use in Richmond recently became a wake-up call that highlighted the proximity of drug use to everyday life.
TJ then expressed his shock in an interview.
'People usually inject in privacy; however, Richmond is known for this,' TJ shared.
'I was shocked to see this happening as we literally had kids playing basketball and football metres away.'
The situation in Richmond has been a complex one.
High-rise commission towers on Elizabeth Street sat adjacent to the city's only injecting room.
Residents of these towers have shared their experiences of living among people with addiction and painted a picture of a community under siege by the consequences of drug abuse.
Jackie, a long-time resident, spoke of the horrors she witnessed while living in the area.
'No, I don't feel safe,' the 51-year-old lamented.
'I found one dead body before the injecting room arrived, but there have been more after.'
'I feel so unsafe even during the day going for a walk. I get constant verbal abuse and sexual harassment,' she further shared.
Another resident, Dan, shared the same sentiment as Jackie, as he had spent most of his lifetime in the area.
He criticised the decision to place the injecting room near a primary school and called it 'the worst idea ever'.
Dan lost several friends to drug overdoses, including one who had just become a father.
'I knew him since he was 15 or 16. He was 22 years old, and he f****** died, mate,' Dan shared.
Other locals echoed these residents' sentiments.
'Users get stuff from the injecting room and go into the car parks and use drugs there,' an anonymous resident said.
'They use drugs in the stairwells of the towers, too.'
Another local shared their experience after calling emergency services on a person with an addiction.
'He was revived, and then three hours later, he was in a pub in Victoria Street, same bloke,' they shared.
Despite cleanup efforts, scattered needles continue to be a problem in the area—a testament to the scale of heroin use in Victoria.
According to statistics, Victoria has been tagged as the heroin capital of Australia, with Richmond accounting for a large number of users.
The state of Victoria consumed nearly 500 kg of heroin in 2023, with NSW and Queensland trailing behind at 366 kg and 82 kg, respectively.
The national total approached 1000 kg, which underscored the gravity of the issue.
Melbourne's safe injecting room was granted permanent status in March 2023 by the Daniel Andrews Labor Government.
Despite the trial and approval, the injecting room has been a point of contention for many.
While the facility managed over 4400 overdoses safely, residents like Christine Maynard argued that its location brought significant harm to the community.
Watch TJ's ordeal here:
Source: TJ Official Melb/YouTube
'There are enormous issues that come with having a drug den on their doorstep,' Ms Maynard said.
'They are so vulnerable. It's outrageous that you see kids walking around the injecting room.'
'What are we actually doing to these kids?' she further asked.
'I just spoke to two kids from a local school who live in the flats, and it's just normal to see drug users in and out of the buildings. It should never be normal.'
A separate document revealed the traumatic experiences of families at Richmond West Primary School, with reports of lockdowns, children requiring counselling, and young kids encountering needles on normal days.
The video from Richmond should be a stark reminder of the human cost of drug addiction and the challenges communities face in addressing this crisis.
It also raised important questions about the balance between providing health services to drug users and ensuring the safety and well-being of the broader community.
As we grapple with these issues, it's crucial to foster open dialogue and seek solutions that protect all members of society. What are your thoughts about the footage from Richmond? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section below.
The harsh realities of drug addiction often remain hidden behind closed doors.
However, recent footage from Melbourne brought the issue into the stark light of day, as it illustrated the severity of the city's heroin crisis.
The footage, captured by a social media user named TJ, showed a scene that has been all too real for the residents of Richmond—the epicentre of Melbourne's heroin epidemic.
The video showed a woman injecting a man with what she describes as 'pure heroin' in the shadows outside the Richmond flats.
Moments later, the man starts to struggle—he stumbles on the floor, starts slapping himself, and writhes on the ground in distress.
The woman's voice, filled with regret and urgency, can be heard in the footage.
TJ encountered a couple of Richmond locals while filming. Image Credit: YouTube/TJ Official
'He just had a whack of pure heroin. I shouldn't have given it to him, f***. Any Narcan?' the woman asked as she sought a life-saving antidote for opioid overdoses.
This raw and unfiltered glimpse into the impact of heroin use in Richmond recently became a wake-up call that highlighted the proximity of drug use to everyday life.
TJ then expressed his shock in an interview.
'People usually inject in privacy; however, Richmond is known for this,' TJ shared.
'I was shocked to see this happening as we literally had kids playing basketball and football metres away.'
The situation in Richmond has been a complex one.
High-rise commission towers on Elizabeth Street sat adjacent to the city's only injecting room.
Residents of these towers have shared their experiences of living among people with addiction and painted a picture of a community under siege by the consequences of drug abuse.
Jackie, a long-time resident, spoke of the horrors she witnessed while living in the area.
'No, I don't feel safe,' the 51-year-old lamented.
'I found one dead body before the injecting room arrived, but there have been more after.'
'I feel so unsafe even during the day going for a walk. I get constant verbal abuse and sexual harassment,' she further shared.
Another resident, Dan, shared the same sentiment as Jackie, as he had spent most of his lifetime in the area.
He criticised the decision to place the injecting room near a primary school and called it 'the worst idea ever'.
Dan lost several friends to drug overdoses, including one who had just become a father.
'I knew him since he was 15 or 16. He was 22 years old, and he f****** died, mate,' Dan shared.
Other locals echoed these residents' sentiments.
'Users get stuff from the injecting room and go into the car parks and use drugs there,' an anonymous resident said.
'They use drugs in the stairwells of the towers, too.'
Another local shared their experience after calling emergency services on a person with an addiction.
'He was revived, and then three hours later, he was in a pub in Victoria Street, same bloke,' they shared.
Despite cleanup efforts, scattered needles continue to be a problem in the area—a testament to the scale of heroin use in Victoria.
According to statistics, Victoria has been tagged as the heroin capital of Australia, with Richmond accounting for a large number of users.
The state of Victoria consumed nearly 500 kg of heroin in 2023, with NSW and Queensland trailing behind at 366 kg and 82 kg, respectively.
The national total approached 1000 kg, which underscored the gravity of the issue.
Melbourne's safe injecting room was granted permanent status in March 2023 by the Daniel Andrews Labor Government.
Despite the trial and approval, the injecting room has been a point of contention for many.
While the facility managed over 4400 overdoses safely, residents like Christine Maynard argued that its location brought significant harm to the community.
Watch TJ's ordeal here:
Source: TJ Official Melb/YouTube
'There are enormous issues that come with having a drug den on their doorstep,' Ms Maynard said.
'They are so vulnerable. It's outrageous that you see kids walking around the injecting room.'
'What are we actually doing to these kids?' she further asked.
'I just spoke to two kids from a local school who live in the flats, and it's just normal to see drug users in and out of the buildings. It should never be normal.'
A separate document revealed the traumatic experiences of families at Richmond West Primary School, with reports of lockdowns, children requiring counselling, and young kids encountering needles on normal days.
The video from Richmond should be a stark reminder of the human cost of drug addiction and the challenges communities face in addressing this crisis.
It also raised important questions about the balance between providing health services to drug users and ensuring the safety and well-being of the broader community.
