Addiction specialist Suzy Morrison has shared a deeply personal account of her journey from early insecurity to substance dependence, and ultimately toward recovery.

Morrison traced her struggles back to childhood, describing feelings of anxiety, not belonging, and a persistent sense that “something was flawed.” Adopted as a baby and raised in a loving South Island family, she said those early emotional undercurrents shaped much of what followed.

Her first experience with alcohol at age 14 marked a turning point. “I felt at ease in my skin and connected to other people for the first time,” she said. What began as experimentation soon escalated, with daily drinking by age 17 and a gradual introduction to other substances including cannabis, stimulants, and psychedelics.

Morrison recounted a period of extensive travel through Fiji, Australia and beyond, describing a lifestyle that was both adventurous and increasingly chaotic. While outwardly functional, her substance use intensified, eventually including heroin, an experience she described as profoundly impactful.

“I saw this neon sign… and just thought, this is it,” she said, recalling her first use. Over time, what began as a perceived solution became dependency. “It moved from something I used to something I needed just to function.”

Despite years of heavy use, Morrison said she did not initially recognise the severity of her addiction, in part because it was normalised within her social circles. It was only later, after being directly labelled an “addict” by a medical professional, that the reality began to take hold.

The episode resonated strongly with listeners, with some describing her story as “like listening to a mirror,” highlighting the widespread and often hidden nature of addiction.

Host Kyle McDonald noted that Morrison's story reflects a broader truth: addiction often develops alongside otherwise full and active lives, making it harder to identify and address.

Now working as an addiction specialist, Morrison uses her lived experience to support others, offering insight into both the emotional drivers of addiction and the long path toward recovery.