Earlier this week I joined 300 people at #RethinkAddiction in #CBR
It was an opportunity to listen & learn from people who had a lived experience of alcohol, other drug or gambling addiction.
There were so many lessons.
Here are just a few.
fare.org.au/lessons-from-t…
1/🧵
It was an opportunity to listen & learn from people who had a lived experience of alcohol, other drug or gambling addiction.
There were so many lessons.
Here are just a few.
fare.org.au/lessons-from-t…
1/🧵
On the importance of lived experience, speaking out & being heard
‘My vulnerability creates a pathway for others to connect their humanness because they feel seen & heard.’ @seselja_k
‘If it’s not said, it never happened & no one can get support.’ @Selba_G_Luka
2/
‘My vulnerability creates a pathway for others to connect their humanness because they feel seen & heard.’ @seselja_k
‘If it’s not said, it never happened & no one can get support.’ @Selba_G_Luka
2/
On responsibility & culpability
‘Big alcohol is undoubtedly the Goliath in this country & we the people r the David…but who won…’ @SITC_CEO_Shanna
‘The machines r designed to addict. This is govt-sanctioned abuse. I’m not the problem, gambling is the problem.’ @ahbard
3/
‘Big alcohol is undoubtedly the Goliath in this country & we the people r the David…but who won…’ @SITC_CEO_Shanna
‘The machines r designed to addict. This is govt-sanctioned abuse. I’m not the problem, gambling is the problem.’ @ahbard
3/
On stigma and shame
‘I now live free from shame that was never mine to bear… a shame that knowingly belonged to the perpetrators of harm.’ @ahbard
4/
‘I now live free from shame that was never mine to bear… a shame that knowingly belonged to the perpetrators of harm.’ @ahbard
4/
On the intergenerational impacts
‘Heroin was the substitute for the love my mother couldn’t give me. And she couldn’t give that love because she was taken as a child.’ Daniel Wilson
5/
‘Heroin was the substitute for the love my mother couldn’t give me. And she couldn’t give that love because she was taken as a child.’ Daniel Wilson
5/
On bravery
‘We have to embrace our humanness and be mindful not to make sharing our stories an act of bravery, because if it’s only for the brave, people will disqualify themselves.’ @seselja_k
6/
‘We have to embrace our humanness and be mindful not to make sharing our stories an act of bravery, because if it’s only for the brave, people will disqualify themselves.’ @seselja_k
6/
On language
‘We need to move away from the myth that we need to hit rock bottom to create change – the myth that we can’t change until we’ve hit it.’ @DavidCampbell73
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‘We need to move away from the myth that we need to hit rock bottom to create change – the myth that we can’t change until we’ve hit it.’ @DavidCampbell73
7/
So, what now?
Significant profits are being made from addiction at the expense of people, families & communities. What these stories tell us is that we do not have the right controls in place for alcohol, other drugs & gambling harm in Australia.
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Significant profits are being made from addiction at the expense of people, families & communities. What these stories tell us is that we do not have the right controls in place for alcohol, other drugs & gambling harm in Australia.
8/
It takes an incredible emotional toll for people to share their stories again & again.
It's not fair for govts to continue to ask for these stories in every form before change is considered or made.
These voices need to be heard.
It's time for govts to listen & act.
9/
It's not fair for govts to continue to ask for these stories in every form before change is considered or made.
These voices need to be heard.
It's time for govts to listen & act.
9/
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