Thread by @CroakeyNews

Final panel session now for Day 1 #RethinkAddiction, where we will be hearing about addiction issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - "one of the most important issues that this conference and the nation faces," says @FaineJon

#RethinkAddiction session

Hearing first from Steven Bastian, a Yorta Yorta man who benefited from a drug diversion program and works as a youth worker and Indigenous mentor (read about him here abc.net.au/news/2021-08-2…) #RethinkAddiction

Steven Bastian says his mistakes have made him who he is but had a strong bond with his mum, was given an ultimatum by a judge, who could see someone with potential: 'I could put you in jail for three years but know you're not going to come out any better'. #RethinkAddiction

Steven Bastian went into specialist Aboriginal rehab, "a beautiful place because it's all about your culture...If they're not culturally safe, they're not going to work for you." #RethinkAddiction

"You can go to rehab, you can do your 12 steps....but it all goes to that support network when you come out, where are they going to go when they come out (of prisons)." Steven Bastian #RethinkAddiction

Jasmine Wilson, is a SA-based Aboriginal woman and part of the Stolen Generations whose family originally came from the NT, had been working in drug/alcohol services. She tells #RethinkAustralia about her slow journey into meth addiction. It was 'hell' on many levels.

She went from having zero interaction with police to 60-70 episodes, began to understand what many Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people experience daily. She was hit with stigma and shame, judged against anything any other meth users had ever done. #RethinkAddiction

But Jasmine Wilson says a police interaction & love of her children are the reason she is alive & off meth today: She was lonely, "everyone was a risk to me and my sobriety" but wanting to be there for her kids got her there #RethinkAddiction

Ngarrindjeri man Peter Jack, who was taken away from his family as a child, talks about his journey with morphine/heroin addiction. Looked set to go to prison, but given bail, sent to sheep farm run by Aboriginal Sobriety Group, opened up education/training... #RethinkAddiction

Peter Jack ended up working with @KConigrave & now @SydneyLHD.

What works from your story with young people? "Most people don't even know I'm working, I'm just yapping with them."

#RethinkAddiction

Daniel Wilson, whose mother was a member of the Stolen Generations, says heroin became a substitute for love. "I had no care for myself whatever" but, having a serious foot infection, he sought health care, and ended up at @OdysseyHouse. #RethinkAddiction

Jasmine Wilson talks about struggling alone with addiction, too fearful to seek help because it would risk losing her children under a system that punished rather than supported or understood addiction. #RethinkAddiction

Steven Bastian talks about the pending repercussions of a system where more Indigenous kids now in care than during the Stolen Generations: "what does that tell you?" he says, talking about the ripple effect of intergenerational trauma and role of mentoring. #RethinkAddiction

Shoutout at #RethinkAddiction from Steven Bastian for his nana's book: Daughter of the River Country goodreads.com/en/book/show/5…

Steven Bastian talks about the role of Indigenous mentoring, the power of the recovery model, and the impact of lost culture and connection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people #RethinkAddiction

"It may have been my ancestors," agrees Daniel Wilson about how ill-health took him on his road to recovery, says his whole life struggle has been to reconnect, regain identity, so open to the possibility of guidance #RethinkAddiction

"Why don't you effing help me then," says Jasmin Wilson of those who said she risked losing her children while she struggled with addiction. #RethinkAddiction

"When you take on an Aboriginal kid, you have to take on their culture." Steven Bastian says has seen too often foster carers ignoring culture, too many siblings separated under a flawed foster system. #RethinkAddiction

Would YOU get over it, asks Steven Bastian about the Stolen Generations being told to move on from their trauma #RethinkAddiction

"Education doesn't stop addiction," says Jasmine Wilson, who was well-versed on drug/alcohol issues. Says we need other supports/avenues. Hard for her to meet new people that don't involve alcohol. Big issues, incl media, for kids today #RethinkAddiction

Drugs are about power and control, if we could get them out of the hands of dealers: we would love to have pill testing in Adelaide #RethinkAddiction

"I believe being heard/understood by people with lived experience is key", says Jasmine Wilson. "Trying to explain your life on drugs to someone who's never been on drugs....you can't explain it. It's the relatability." #RethinkAddiction

Steven Bastian prefers the word 'mentoring' vs peer support, "I'm living proof (recovery) can be possible." #RethinkAddiction

Hearing at #RethinkAddiction from @AngeleneBruce about shocking rates of FASD at Banksia Hill youth detention centre: "#RaisetheAge", she says: bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/2/e0…

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