13 episodes
Nobody Dies Here: Inside Melbourne's Medically Supervised Injecting Room Alongside Radio
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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Tour an exceptional health service with the people who know it best, health workers and people who inject drugs, in this twelve episode series.
Winner Best Documentary Australian Podcast Awards 2023
A fully independent and self-funded Alongside Radio (Australia) production.
Recorded on unceded Wurundjeri land, produced on unceded Turrbal/ Yagera land.
Created with the cooperation of North Richmond Community Health’s Medically Supervised Injecting Room.
You can support the show here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Everyone is welcome. Not everyone is welcome.
In the entry zone, staff walk the fine line between extending a warm, non-judgemental welcome to all and adhering to licensing regulations. People from every walk of life present here to access the room.
Featuring
Head of Security - Amri
Nurses - Kerry, Paul and Simon
NSP Worker - Carmel
Harm Reduction Practitioners - Tess, Jesse and Lisa
Client - Beattie
Host - Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Credits
Producer/ Writer/ Editor/ Sound Design/ Mix - Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Atmospheric Sound Recording - Jon Tjhia and Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Recorded on Wurundjeri land, produced on Turrbal/ Jagera land
An independent production of Alongside Radio (Australia), made possible by the cooperation of the North Richmond MSIR
You can support the production here
Read the Ryan Review to get more stats and facts about the trial of the North Richmond MSIR
"Since its establishment in 2018, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) trial in North Richmond has succeeded in achieving the trial’s central objective: saving lives. There have been almost 6,000 overdose events in the MSIR during the trial, and none has been fatal. Modelling suggests that during its time in operation the MSIR has prevented up to 63 deaths." (p.5 Ryan Review, February 2023)
Thanks
(MSIR) Dr Nico Clark, Shelley Cogger, Zoe Gleeson, Jen Anderson, James Fitzpatrick, and all the visiting clients and staff on duty, Sunday 26 June 2022
AND Dylan Ransom-Hughes, Daniel Semo, Sophie Ransom, Jon Tjhia, Jaye Kranz, Lucy Osborne, Miss Nicole, Dave Suttee, Virginia Heal and Nia Pericles
Artwork by Eloise McCullough
Music
Selva Oscura by Daniel Barbiero (with kind permission)
Nobody Dies Here Theme (Jen Anderson) (original works)
Destruction Loop and For The Record by Daniel Birch (with kind permission)
A Strange Childhood (Paradigm) (CCbyA FMA)
Guitar Riff by DeerLord (CCbyA)
incinc by Tim Khan (CCbyA - Freesound)
Nobody Dies Here Second Theme Variation 1 and Variation 2 by Jen Anderson (original works)
1106 Etoile (Downliners Sekt) (CCbyANC)
Thanks to the generosity of all sound artists and musicians who share their work via Creative Commons licenses and help make independent podcast productions viable
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Beattie
When the MSIR opened Beattie was the fourth person to register and would use the room most days. Now, with the help of his ‘medicine’, a housing program and trusted medical advisors, he’s working towards the life he wants. Vigilance about his health and fear of overdose keep him coming back to the MSIR.
Content Advice: descriptions of drug use and overdose
Credits
Featuring - Beattie
Host - Christina
Producer/ Interviewer/ Editor - Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Host recording - Shelley Cogger
Recorded on Wurundjeri land, produced on Turrbal/ Jagera land
An independent production of Alongside Radio (Australia), made possible by the cooperation of the North Richmond MSIR
You can support the production here
Thank you
Jen Anderson, Shelley Cogger, Donna, Lisa, Dr Nico Clark, Dylan Ransom-Hughes, Jon Tjhia, Jaye Kranz, Sophie Ransom, Lucy Osborne, Alice Garner and Sean Guillory---==
Links
Read the Ryan Review to get more stats and facts about the trial of the North Richmond MSIR
Launch Housing
Music
Distant Drums by King Kong Ding Dong (CCbyANC/ FMA)
Precious Breath by Jen Anderson (Original)
11066 Etoile by Downliners Sekt (CCbyANC/ FMA)
Nobody Dies Here Theme by Jen Anderson (original)
Thanks to the generosity of all sound artists and musicians who share their work via Creative Commons licenses and help make independent productions viable
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Watching over you
In the injecting zone, calm attention is crucial. Workers keep a keen eye on people injecting, while also respecting their privacy. And when someone’s oxygen drops, workers are ready to respond immediately and prevent fatal overdose.
Content advice: drug use, overdose, mild coarse language
Featuring
Nurses - Kerry, Paul, Jen and Simon
Harm Reduction Practitioners - Tess, Jesse, Lisa
Client - Christina
MSIR Medical Director - Nico Clark
Host - Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Credits
Producer/ Writer/ Editor/ Sound Design/ Mix - Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Atmospheric Sound recording - Jon Tjhia and Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Recorded on Wurundjeri land, produced on Turrbal/ Jagera land
An independent production of Alongside Radio (Australia), made possible by the cooperation of the North Richmond MSIR
You can support the production here
Read the Ryan Review to get more stats and facts about the trial of the North Richmond MSIR
"Since its establishment in 2018, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) trial in North Richmond has succeeded in achieving the trial’s central objective: saving lives. There have been almost 6,000 overdose events in the MSIR during the trial, and none has been fatal. Modelling suggests that during its time in operation the MSIR has prevented up to 63 deaths." (p.5 Ryan Review, February 2023)
Thanks
(MSIR) Shelley Cogger, Dr Nico Clark, Zoe Gleeson, Jen Anderson, James Fitzpatrick, and all the visiting clients and staff on duty, Sunday 26 June 2022.
Jon Tjhia, Dylan Ransom-Hughes, Daniel Semo, Sophie Ransom, Jaye Kranz, Lucy Osborne, Kim Lester, Miss Nicole, Dave Suttee, Virginia H, and Nia P.
Music
Arriving Fog and Anticipation by Brylie Christopher Oxley (with kind permission)
Orma by Tim Khan (CCbyA freesound)
Grevillea Music by Danny Bale (CCbyANC)
Nobody Dies Here Theme by Jen Anderson (original)
Various by David Szesztay (under license)
Thanks to the generosity of all sound artists and musicians who share their work via Creative Commons licenses and help make independent productions viable
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Christina/ Adrian
Two separate interviews conducted at the MSIR in June 2022
Christina has dreams of studying one day. She sees the community at the MSIR, fellow clients and the workers, as family.
Adrian works in construction. He’s cut back on his heroin use, but it's a secret from his family he remains deeply conflicted about.
Content Advice: explicit language, descriptions of drug use
Credits
Featuring: Christina and Adrian (*not his real name)
Host: Christina
Producer/ Interviewer/ Editor: Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Host recording: Shelley Cogger
Recorded on Wurundjeri land, produced on Turrbal/ Jagera land
An independent production of Alongside Radio (Australia), made possible by the cooperation of the North Richmond MSIR
You can support the production here
Read the Ryan Review to get more stats and facts about the trial of the North Richmond MSIR
Thanks
Shelley Cogger, Donna Williamson, Lisa, Jen Anderson, Nico Clark, and those workers at the MSIR who helped make these interviews with clients possible.
Also, to Dylan Ransom-Hughes, Daniel Semo, Sophie Ransom, Lucy Osborne, Jon Tjhia, Sean and Alice, Dave Suttee, Kim Lester, Miss Nicole and Sheree.
Music
Nobody Dies Here Theme by Jen Anderson
A Human Being by Andy G. Cohen released under a Creative Commons Attribution International License
Inette and Grest by Tim Khan (CCbyA freesound)
Thanks to the generosity of all sound artists and musicians who share their work via Creative Commons licenses and help make independent productions viable
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Not just injecting
From karaoke to crisis care: we hear how the bonds of trust formed between people who come to inject drugs and MSIR workers can play out in Zone 3, Aftercare. Walking alongside clients can sometimes mean watching people turn their life around; and sometimes end in loss.
Content advice: drug use, mild coarse language
Featuring
Nurses - Kerry, Simon, Paul, Jen
Harm Reduction Practitioners - Tess, Dylan, Lisa
Head of Security - Amri
Host: Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Credits
Producer/ Editor/ Writer/ Sound Design: Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Atmospheric Sound recordings: Jon Tjhia and Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Final mix: Dylan Ransom-Hughes
Recorded on Wurundjeri land, produced on Turrbal/ Jagera land
An independent production of Alongside Radio (Australia), made possible by the cooperation of the North Richmond MSIR
You can support the production here
Read the Ryan Review to get more stats and facts about the trial of the North Richmond MSIR
"Since its establishment in 2018, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) trial in North Richmond has succeeded in achieving the trial’s central objective: saving lives. There have been almost 6,000 overdose events in the MSIR during the trial, and none has been fatal. Modelling suggests that during its time in operation the MSIR has prevented up to 63 deaths." (p.5 Ryan Review, February 2023)
Thanks
(MSIR) Shelley Cogger, Nico Clark, Zoe Gleeson, Jen Anderson, James Fitzpatrick, and all the visiting clients and staff on duty, Sunday 26 June 2022.
Dylan Ransom-Hughes, Daniel Semo, Sophie Ransom, Jaye Kranz, Lucy Osborne, Kim Lester, Dave Suttee, Virginia H, and Nia P.
Series art by Eloise McCullough.
Music
Nobody Dies Here Theme by Jen Anderson (original)
Off Kilter - Derek Stephens (CCO FMA)
Somewhere There Now - Daniel Barbiero (with kind permission)
Armitage - Kelly Latimore (CCbyA)
Thanks to the generosity of all sound artists and musicians who share their work via Creative Commons licenses and help make independent productions viable
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Rachael
Rachael reflects on the relationships and the ritual that draw her back to the injecting room; how some people flirt with death, and why she’s trying opioid replacement, Suboxone.
CW: drug use, mild coarse language
Credits
Host: Pudgey
Featuring: Rachael
Interviewer: Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Producer/ Editor/ Sound Design: Michelle Ransom-Hughes
Host recording: Shelley Cogger
Recorded on unceded Wurundjeri land, produced on unceded Turrbal/ Jagera land
An independent production of Alongside Radio (Australia), made possible by the cooperation of the North Richmond MSIR.
You can support the production here
Read the Ryan Review to get more stats and facts about the trial of the North Richmond MSIR
"Since its establishment in 2018, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) trial in North Richmond has succeeded in achieving the trial’s central objective: saving lives. There have been almost 6,000 overdose events in the MSIR during the trial, and none has been fatal. Modelling suggests that during its time in operation the MSIR has prevented up to 63 deaths." (p.5 Ryan Review, February 2023)
Thanks
Dylan Ransom-Hughes, Jen Anderson, Nico Clark, Donna, Lisa, Simon, Alice and Sean, Sophie, and all the staff at the MSIR who helped make these interviews with clients possible
Music
Keratin Rust and a Clear Soul by Alpha Hydrae CC0
Nobody Dies Here Theme by Jen Anderson
Music under license by Chad Crouch
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
An important service and podcast
This really is an unflinching perspective on what harm reduction looks like in practice. These spaces serve an important function for something that is happening. People aren’t going to die somewhere alone or spread diseases to themselves or others needlessly.
It also has some uncomfortable moments. Where it could feel wrong for someone who doesn’t need the service. Or the sounds are played for extended periods. But that’s kind of the point, innit? To understand that it doesn’t need to feel good to you if you don’t need the service. But it’s so vital we expand such services, in addition to addiction mitigation.
A compelling look into the complexity of herion users' lives
There's many ways Michelle Ransom-Hughes could have taken this series. She could've true-crimed it and presented all the gory details of heroin use. She could've created a sensational treatment that we find in so many romaticized drug stories. Or she could've taken a moralistic posture--drugs are bad and drug users are corrupt and suspect people. Few of us would have blinked at any of these because we've seen drug use, and heroin especially, presented in these ways. The drug and the people who use it are often just fodder for our own titualtion.
But Michelle took a different--and frankly more diffuclt--approach with Nobody Dies Here. We hear the voices of the people visit and work at Melborne's North Richmond Community Health’s Medically Supervised Injecting Room. Throughout the series we learn that people are more than their addiction--they can't be reduced to it. And we learn that the MSIR is a place of community where heroin is the node that connects users and staff. The drug isn't the sum of their relations.
I admit that I had many of the stereotypes about herion users. I've known a few in my life and I've watched each of them destory themselves. But Nobody Dies Here gives me a different narrative. Yes, there is nothing romantic about heroin addiction. It can kill you. But perhaps many of the reasons why we ascribe such shame to addicts is because there aren't places like the Richomnd MSIR, at least not in the United States. Perhaps if these people were given a place to safely tend to their addiction (and even seek treatment which the MSIR provides) maybe we can get beyond all the stereotypes Nobody Dies Here is trying to dispel.