Thread by @CroakeyNews

It's @mariemcinerney on deck today, ready to live tweet Day 1 of #RethinkAddiction with @AlisonSBarrett. Program here: conferenceco.eventsair.com/rethink-addict…

I'll be attending virtually: tweeting from Melbourne/Naarm, on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nations

#RethinkAddiction - standing by for Day 1 to begin

Here's our preview of #RethinkAddiction, with thanks to @seselja_k for sharing her experience and calls for action on the commercial determinants of health - with stigma, shame, vested interests among many barriers to proper treatment/care of addiction croakey.org/how-the-system…

Coming up first today at #RethinkAddiction, we will hear from @dan_lubman, 2022 Aust of the Year Local Hero @SITC_CEO_Shanna (Sober in the Country @SITCBUSHCHARITY soberinthecountry.org) and Assistant Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Rural and Regional Health @Emma4Dobell

We are being welcomed to Country at #RethinkAddiction from Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan

Aunty Violet Sheridan talks about the impact of addictions, including her own with tobacco, and on young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are incarcerated because of addiction #RethinkAddiction

Many rehab services are prohibitive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, because they are not public and therefore unaffordable, says Aunty Violet Sheridan #RethinkAustralia

Aunty Violet Sheridan talks about the act of Welcome to Country and her role as a Ngunnawal Elder #RethinkAustralia

Now being introduced to #RethinkAddiction by its moderator @FaineJon, former @abcmelbourne Mornings presenter, who notes the conference is going ahead in Canberra this week, although Parliament is not now, following the death of the Queen

Those at #RethinkAddiction asked to wear masks by @FaineJon. Also acknowledges the trauma that people in the room may have experienced through addiction. Notes that conference will be sharing 'mind maps', visual scribing work to capture discussions through the two days.

First speaker up today, to open the inaugural #RethinkAddiction event, is @dan_lubman, Executive Clinical Director @TurningPointAU; Director @MonashAddiction and Professor #Addiction Studies
@MonashUni @easternhealthau

. @dan_lubman talks about the Addicted Australia doco which highlighted the stigma and shame around addiction and the need for better treatment and care, and which led to the @rethinkadd coalition/campaign sbs.com.au/ondemand/progr… #RethinkAustralia

Why and we are and what are we trying to achieve? Because one in four Australians will develop an alcohol, drug or gambling disorder during their lifetime and their pathways to care are littered with barriers incl stigma/shame, says @dan_lubman #RethinkAustralia

We know that telling the real stories of addiction are the key to addressing stigma, says @dan_lubman - showing a sneak preview of the Real Stories videos produced by @rethinkadd #RethinkAddiction

. @rethinkadd has been working on another video project with @MonashUni students to highlight the power of hearing the voices of lived experience #RethinkAddiction - @dan_lubman provides a preview here

Powerful stories of lived experience of addiction being told in @MonashUni video at #RethinkAddiction

"People ask how much have I lost...10 years of my life and all my self-esteem', says one participant. "The shame shuts you down".

But also "I'm more than my sad story".

Now hearing at #RethinkAddiction from @SITC_CEO_Shanna, founder of Sober in the Country and 2022 Australian of the Year Local Hero soberinthecountry.org @SITCBUSHCHARITY - "putting mates before alcohol"

"I am a very grateful sober human being," says @SITC_CEO_Shanna. "I love sober life, I love who I am in sobriety." #RethinkAddiction

. @SITC_CEO_Shanna says many people familiar with her addiction story (or can watch it here on Australian Story abc.net.au/austory/last-d…), so will talk today about working publicly as an advocate. #RethinkAddiction

. @SITC_CEO_Shanna copped much criticism when she first began speaking out, but it dried up when the pandemic hit.

Having a national platform is a powerful opportunity but also a burden and responsibility, she admits, saying she has had to work on self-care #RethinkAddiction

. @SITC_CEO_Shanna urges lived experience advocates to take care with burnout and exhaustion and talks about the 'two edged sword' of social media. #RethinkAddiction

Drinks replicating alcohol can be dangerous for some of us, says @SITC_CEO_Shanna, warning re risks from the "seemingly harmless, innocuous" promotion of non-alcoholic alcoholic-style drinks. #RethinkAddiction

Australia's 'booze-worshipping' environment is its single biggest socio-economic threat, says @SITC_CEO_Shanna, who says too many state and federal leaders, policy decision-makers are still "wilfully in the dark ages" when it comes to talking re alcohol risks #RethinkAddiction

Australia needs to fund proven preventative measures and lived experiences voices to make sure we can bring around real change on addiction, "instead of pulling people out of the water when they have already drowned": @SITC_CEO_Shanna #RethinkAddiction

Now having a panel discussion at #RethinkAddiction

Hearing first from Anne Iversen, from @WeAreSHARC, talking about learning how to deal with addiction within family, about remaining connected and caring but setting boundaries. She got there via support.

Anne Iversen says more help/less stigma needed for those supporting loved ones with addiction, it was even hard for her to seek a GP's support in early days. "I was suffering from guilt and shame as well" about her own responses. Peer support vital. #RethinkAddiction

The one thing families all say when they find their first support meeting is 'we're not alone anymore'. Comforting to know they can get help and that people have gone there before them: Anne Iversen #RethinkAddiction

"I lost ten years of my life to pokies," says gambling reform advocate @ahbard, talking about her first innocent night out with four friends and the pokies. Four of the five ended up with problematic use #RethinkAddiction

. @ahbard talks about the apparent "warm, safe" environment that pokies set up, with alcohol and machines designed to addict. "I went there to escape and I did...until I couldn't escape." #RethinkAddiction

"I would sit there in front of those god-forsaken machines and say 'it's okay Anna, you deserve that'. I didn't deserve those pokies." #RethinkAddiction "I realised (the industry) had rolled me over...they targeted me and people like me." @ahbard

. @ahbard would wake up with the sounds of pokies in her head, with the smell of the coins on her hands. "I taught personal responsibility to my children but there was I, and it was a complete secret, nobody knew." Until she sought help....#RethinkAddiction

. @ahbard talks about accessing help, that she avoided support close to home because of the stigma & shame. She talks of the anger re extraordinary lenience of regulation partic in Vic, where pokies can operate 22 hours out of 24 hours #RethinkAddiction

Working on a writing project "unearthed this massive universe of shame that had consumed me", says @ahbard #RethinkAddiction, but it finally prompted her to tell her family of her pokies addiction - "it was a turning point for me" & led to this linkhc.org.au/wp-content/upl…

Andrew Addie introduces himself as "surf life-saver, pole-dancer, ocean swimmer, openly-gay", talks about mental health issues around coming out, living in regional Aust and among "gross homophobia", and having to tackle alcohol issues. #RethinkAddiction

"My mental health condition overshadowed how much I was drinking", says Andrew Addie. He talks about difficult experiences seeking help in EDs & through outreach, until finally got the support he needed & life changed #RethinkAddiction

We know the statistics about difficulties in accessing support for people from regional areas & LGBTIQ communities, says Andrew Addie. #RethinkAddiction

. @SITC_CEO_Shanna talks about the impact of sexual violence and trauma, and introduction of alcohol in her life. "A garden variety case of unresolved trauma in a booze-worshipping culture". A story we hear again and again re living a double life, she says #RethinkAddiction

You are revered and glorified for your ability to drink in many Australian country environments where big drinkers are seen not as having problems but as "legends", where "'you can't trust a bloke who says no to a beer'": @SITC_CEO_Shanna #RethinkAddiction

. @FaineJon asks #RethinkAddiction panellists about the source of their "remarkable, personal courage" to go against the crowd.

"Ultimately what it came down to was connection, meeting someone else like me, knew I wasn't alone, I saw that glimpse of hope," says @SITC_CEO_Shanna

Andrew Addie had just "had enough", he says of finding the courage to deal with "so many demons". He talks about learning to know and love himself, making connections in support, "it helps you build your own courage". #RethinkAddiction

"Mine came from being pissed off", says @ahbard of finding her courage after hearing the stories of others and learning about the vested interests in gambling addiction, with machines designed to addict by a 'protected industry', "govt sanctioned abuse" #RethinkAddiction

"Don't talk to me about 'problem gambling' - I'm not the problem, gambling is the problem," says @ahbard #RethinkAddiction

Anne Iversen talks of the despair she felt until she found others who had been through her experience and were living a good life, and is now buoyed by working with @WeAreSHARC #RethinkAddiction

"You can't be what you can't see," says Andrew Addie, on the need to snatch the microphone and change the story on addiction, but adding that there are more vulnerable members of the LGBTIQ+ community than him, particularly those who are trans and non-binary #RethinkAddiction

"It is a bloody relentless push uphill," says @SITC_CEO_Shanna of efforts to #RethinkAddiction

Some of the participant feedback at #RethinkAddiction

"Gambling needs to be on the radar for GPs," says @ahbard in response to a question at #RethinkAddiction from a GP. Tells story of one person who raised with their doctor who replied 'I know what you mean, I'm addicted to chocolate'.

ED physician says EDs "desperately under-resourced" to deal with people in those "golden moments" when they present with addiction. "We desperately need money and resources to be able to have those conversations that we need to have with you." #RethinkAddiction

ED physician observes that drug and alcohol conversations still about a decade behind those in mental health, need to be trauma-informed #RethinkAddiction

More #RethinkAddiction feedback from audience #LGBTIQA

Audience member asks how to shorten the time in which people with addiction seek help, given most are currently 10-20 years: talks re the universal messages at #RethinkAddiction of toxic cultures/environments overlaid with trauma, self-denial and then "a series of epiphanies"

Take the stigma and shame out of seeking help on addiction, for those affected and their loved ones, says Anne Iversen. "Being by yourself literally drives you crazy." #RethinkAddiction

We have to change the normalisation of gambling in Australia, says @ahbard: it's seen as such a harmless past-time, we talk about 'punters' in everyday language, when Australians per capita are the biggest losers in the world. Need to take on predatory industry #RethinkAddiction

Have heard briefly at #RethinkAddiction about Project Sunrise - an alcohol and other drug initiative funded by the Victorian African Communities Action Plan: check it out here theprojectsunrise.org

Many people reach out to GPs for help with alcohol addiction but not taken seriously, #RethinkAddiction hears from audience. "How do we attract quality, well-trained, informed people who understand addiction (into health care) so we can change life trajectories earlier?"

Panel discussions ends with @FaineJon acknowledging and honouring the very candid and authentic accounts at #RethinkAddiction. Great to hear such strong lived experience at the heart of a health conference.

#RethinkAddiction

pls unrol @UnrollHelper