Shehzad Noorani
13-HIV-KRZ-2014-Noorani-0118A
Katya [NAME CHANGED], 19, right, stands with her friend Olya [NAME CHANGE], background, at the shelter for women with addiction problems managed by Asteria, a local NGO, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Katya is recovering for heroine addiction and is currently on Methadone treatment.
Sharing her story, Katya said,
“I don’t have any siblings or parents. They died. I have relatives, but not here. I am not in touch with them.”
“I have been smoking since quite a while. For drugs, I started using marijuana first then hashish and eventually heroine. I only used it once and I was hooked. Could not do without it. It started showing affects fairly soon, my friends became very concerned and warned me. They knew what it will do to me. My friend Olya, who is also at the same shelter now, told me about Asteria, so I came here for help. I have been here for almost one month, just few more days left before my contract with Asteria expires. I will have to find a new place to live and a job soon, so I can pay for it. Asteria allows one to stay only one month. There are other women who needs this place as much as I do, so it is only fair. I want to reduce my Methadone dosage, but not now. I am not ready for it yet.”
Asteria was formed by four women who met each other in a drug rehabilitation facility. They realized that there is a need for a community based organization specifically designed for women with drug addiction that provides them a shelter which allows them space to deal with their immediate concerns and time to prepare for their future challenges.
13-HIV-KRZ-2014-Noorani-0118A
Katya [NAME CHANGED], 19, right, stands with her friend Olya [NAME CHANGE], background, at the shelter for women with addiction problems managed by Asteria, a local NGO, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Katya is recovering for heroine addiction and is currently on Methadone treatment.
Sharing her story, Katya said,
“I don’t have any siblings or parents. They died. I have relatives, but not here. I am not in touch with them.”
“I have been smoking since quite a while. For drugs, I started using marijuana first then hashish and eventually heroine. I only used it once and I was hooked. Could not do without it. It started showing affects fairly soon, my friends became very concerned and warned me. They knew what it will do to me. My friend Olya, who is also at the same shelter now, told me about Asteria, so I came here for help. I have been here for almost one month, just few more days left before my contract with Asteria expires. I will have to find a new place to live and a job soon, so I can pay for it. Asteria allows one to stay only one month. There are other women who needs this place as much as I do, so it is only fair. I want to reduce my Methadone dosage, but not now. I am not ready for it yet.”
Asteria was formed by four women who met each other in a drug rehabilitation facility. They realized that there is a need for a community based organization specifically designed for women with drug addiction that provides them a shelter which allows them space to deal with their immediate concerns and time to prepare for their future challenges.