THE sudden death of her husband helped Renee Pitt kick her long term methamphetamine habit and find a solution to help other South West illicit drug users.
Everyday for 18 years Ms Pitt would take methamphetamine with her husband.
Ms Pitt said they would hide their habit from their children, eating three meals a day and normal sleeping habits “it was easy to hide.”
The lifestyle eventually caught up with Ms Pitt’s husband and he passed away in April last year due to a heart condition caused by the effects of long term drug use.
“At first I didn’t know what to do or how to break my habit,” Ms Pitt said.
“All I knew was that I needed to be there for my children so I looked for help.”
Throughout her teenage years Ms Pitt was on the street without family support or a home and she soon started to get in trouble with the law.
“I was in and out of jail and using illicit drugs heavily,’ she said.
“After my husband died I decided I didn’t want my children to see me that way anymore.”
Ms Pitt said she had to hit rock bottom before she could seek help for her addiction.
“My husband and I went through hell together and after his death I was ready to get clean.”
Ms Pitt spent 10 days at rehabilitation centre in Queensland. Her treatment cost her $10,000.
This made Ms Pitt realise an affordable health retreat needed to be offered to people in the South West.
“Detox is full on and you have to be ready to change,” Ms Pitt said.
“For a lot of people something bad or tragic has to happen to warrant change.
“Anyone can do it but they need support.”
This is why Ms Pitt decided to start a holistic health retreat in Ravensthorpe.
“There are no services in the South West and it’s just wrong,” she said.
“If people want to get clean they need help and I’m hoping to offer this.”
Ms Pitt has been offered by a friend a long term lease on 23 acres of land to start her retreat.
She said the land is ideal as it’s very remote and will prevent recovering addicts from getting hold of illicit drugs easily.
“I’m going to need all the help I can get with the project so if anybody is interested in volunteering please contact me.”
More information contact renee.pitt@me.com.