“My life hasn’t been easy. For a long time, I struggled with addiction, and substitution therapy became what helped me not to lose myself,” says Serhii (name changed).

In Ukraine, he was registered and receiving treatment, but when he moved to Spain, he found himself in a new country without acquaintances or support. “It was hard to understand where to turn. I didn’t know how to continue therapy or where to find the right specialists. And all this while looking for a job, housing… everything at once.” That’s when he heard about the HelpNow service. “I got the contact of a clinic that was able to continue my treatment and explained how the system works.” Serhii notes that the staff’s attitude towards him was friendly and understanding—that he was in a difficult situation, a foreigner needing help. No judgment, only attention. He points out that now he has a schedule and an understanding of what tomorrow will bring. And that is extremely important.

“For me, the main thing is to keep control over myself and keep moving forward,” Serhii shares. “And substitution therapy is my chance to live without fear. I am very grateful for the support I received on this journey!”

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This publication was prepared within the project “From heart to heart” in partnership with Zjednoczenie Pozytywni w Tęczy and Step by Step Fundacja, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.