“My best friend died on the same sofa I overdosed on”

A week ago, 14-year-old Molly from Falun died after ingesting the narcotic drug tramadol together with alcohol. The death has touched many and the discussion about the dangers of the drug has become topical.

First took tramadol when she was 13
17-year-old Vilda Bårman took tramadol for the first time when she was 13. It also became the gateway to other heavy drugs. Two years ago, she told her story in the P1 documentary “The Tramadol Girls”. The turnaround came after she overdosed and ended up in hospital in 2020.

— Six days later, my best friend died on the same sofa that I overdosed on, and then it just went downhill. One day the correctional service came and picked me up and drove me to an SIS institution and locked me up there. It helped to break the habit. I had a lot of time to think in there – that if I don’t stop, I will die, Vilda Bårman tells Nyhetsmorgon.

Jenny: How do you think about that time now?
— I can’t really understand that it’s me who was involved in all that. But I am very grateful to be alive, says Vilda Bårman.

Watch Vilda talk about the turnaround in the clip above.

You can see the entire interview with Vilda Bårman and Hanna Brännström, unit manager Maria Ungdom, here.