Thread by @CroakeyNews

Final session at #RethinkAddiction - hearing from entertainer @DavidCampbell73

. @DavidCampbell73 says was on air last week, could feel anxiety levels rise. His instinct, with 20+ years on stage, is to mask it, make more jokes, keep talking during commercial breaks so crew can't tell: "keep juggling"......#RethinkAddiction

This experience in the past would have been an excuse to drink for @DavidCampbell73, who says addiction, abuse, trauma and poverty were issues in his family background. "We were chaos." #RethinkAddiction

. @DavidCampbell73 laughs that he could talk about his father's stories, but says he - Jimmy Barnes -- has two books out himself, so better to read them (which provided healing for the family): jimmybarnes.com/books/

. @DavidCampbell73 talks about witnessing his father's addiction, his own steps into drinking, the emergence of panic attacks, working in an industry awash in alcohol. He saw it as a family legacy, and it began to impact his work. "So that fun turns to shame". #RethinkAddiction

"We need to rethink as a society how we redefine the term 'rockbottom' and the myth we can't change till we hit it, that we should all give up till all is lost. If we lose this term, we can save lives, save families." @DavidCampbell73 #RethinkAddiction

. @DavidCampbell73 agrees media needs to do its bit to address the stigma & shame around addiction, vows to seek to reframe stories or respond to those that build on stigma. He'd also like to see more media/sport/entertainment figures opt to be sober. #RethinkAddiction

. @CarolJBennett wrapping up #RethinkAddiction talking about the commercial determinants of health (partic gambling), the need for hope, the power of coming together: "walking the talk".

It is ironic, and sad, that @rethinkadd planned #RethinkAddiction to take addiction issues to the nation's Parliament, to put it on the national agenda, only to have MPs vacate Canberra due to the death of Queen Elizabeth

Hearing how Tangentyere Council's approach to petrol sniffing, its approaches to community, government and media, could be model for #RethinkAddiction efforts

Hearing about the lack of resources/supports for people in languages other than English - one patient links, thanks to COVID, to Mandarin language AA meeting in the US #RethinkAddiction

Not one person in any health department in Aust that deals with gambling harm, says @CarolJBennett. Related Ministers are FOR gambling, work with industry, use stigmatising language, while parties accept industry donations. Gambling is a public health issue. #RethinkAddiction

. @dan_lubman says aim of #RethinkAddiction has been to put lived experience at its heart. "You are the key to changing the hearts and minds of our fellow Australians." He thanks all those involved in the event.

Thanks @dan_lubman for shoutout to Croakey coverage of #RethinkAddiction (and for having us at the conference) - we'll have stories going up tomorrow and beyond: bookmark this link croakey.org/category/croak…

KPMG report on costs of addiction will be launched in near future, says @dan_lubman #RethinkAddiction

And that's a wrap for #RethinkAddiction event: as per above, we'll be filing stories on a range of issues - please keep an eye out at @CroakeyNews or via this bookmark croakey.org/category/croak…

#RethinkAddiction @DavidCampbell73 @gavin_scribes

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