According to popular myth, Australia is a party-loving nation of drinkers and gamblers. The dark underside of these national pastimes is an addiction crisis that affects at least one in 20 Australians
Addiction is the psychological or physical compulsion to do something – such as drink alcohol, take drugs or gamble money – even if it does us harm. New SBS series Addicted Australia tells the stories of ten Australians who are struggling with different forms of addiction and charts the progress of their recovery.
Unfortunately, many people battling addiction do so alone. According to the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, just with an alcohol or drug problem seek assistance.
If you or someone you know are struggling with addiction or substance abuse issues, there is help. The following organisations offer services and support to people who are dealing with issues around gambling, alcohol and drug use.
Turning Point
is a Melbourne-based national addiction treatment, training and research centre. It seeks to transform the way society provides treatment, specialist care and support for those affected by addiction.
Providing a targeted treatment program for those determined to tackle their addictions, Turning Point "does not aim to be alternative or radical, but simply shows what we would expect for any other health condition", says Professor Dan Lubman, Turning Point Executive Clinical Director. "While most Australians typically experience a treatment system that is fragmented and disjointed, we provided wraparound, tailored care for each individual, integrated with peer and family support."
Turning Point, in consultation and collaboration with the sector, has launched a public information and advocacy campaign that asks Australians to Rethink Addiction. Visit the to take part in their campaign or to find out more about addiction.
ReachOut
ReachOut is a mental health service that has helped young people for more than two decades. The service offers digital mental health and wellbeing programs tailored for people aged between 14 and 25 that are free, immediate and available 24/7. Young people can anonymously join ReachOut Forums to read posts from others in similar situations and ask for help from peers, while those who need urgent help can use to NextStep tool to find options for personalised support. ReachOut also runs programs for parents and schools. Its online resources include articles and factsheets that provide information and advice about a range of issues including signs of addiction and where to find help if you or a friend or family member are dealing with a substance abuse problem.
Hello Sunday Morning
Hello Sunday Morning began when nightclub promoter Chris Raine decided to forgo alcohol for 12 months in 2009. He recorded his experience in a blog – signing off each post with “Hello, Sunday morning!” – which evolved into a national charity dedicated to helping people change their relationship with alcohol.
In 2017, Hello Sunday Morning launched the Daybreak App, a peer support platform which has since had 60,000 downloads. The app provides access to Daybreak’s online community of likeminded people who want to quit or reduce their alcohol consumption, plus one-on-one chats with health coaches. It also features ‘Experiments’, activities designed to help users assess and adapt their behaviour. One study cited at the Hello Sunday Morning website found that active Daybreak users reduced their alcohol consumption from 37 standard drinks a week to 17 and saved on average $7000 a year.
Find out how you can transform your relationship with alcohol or support others who seek to do the same at the .
Malpa
According to , tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs are key risk factors contributing to the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Reducing this disparity is the aim of organisations like Malpa, which runs programs to improve the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal young people.
Young Doctors for Life is a project aimed at children aged between nine and twelve years old. “It has its basis in the practices of the Ngangkari of the Central Desert who chose children as ‘young doctors’ and trained them to look after the wellbeing – physical and social/emotional – of their mob,” explains Deborah Palmer, Director of Curriculum and School Engagement at Malpa. “The major emphasis is on building resilience and self-confidence so that the young people we work with are able to make clear, informed and healthy life choices.”
The program focuses on connection to community and culture and incorporates both traditional and contemporary Western approaches to health and wellbeing. “The students…learn about dealing with stress and depression, how to recognise their own trigger points and how to diffuse difficult emotional states,” says Palmer. “They learn about how to stay physically and emotionally safe. They learn to differentiate between helpful and harmful drugs and safe usage.”
Malpa has so far trained 2000 young doctors and a further 650 will be trained by the end of this financial year. Learn more about The Malpa Project at the organisation’s .
Holyoake
Established in Western Australia in 1975 by John Keating and Anita Day, Holyoake is a pioneering service that support individuals, families and communities who are impacted by alcohol, drugs and related mental wellbeing issues.
Holyoake is an award-winning independent service unaffiliated with any religious, political or community organisations that offers a range of evidence-based counselling programs for people directly and indirectly affected by drugs and alcohol. In 2013, Holyoake introduced its Wellbeing@Work program to address stress and unhealthy coping mechanisms in the workplace.
Aussie Helpers
Not-for-profit organisation Aussie Helpers is a lifeline for people who live in rural and regional Australia, offering financial assistance, counselling and educational programs to rural farming families and farming communities who need help. Aussie Helpers is entirely funded by sponsorships and donations from the public and relies on a network of volunteers to do its good work around the country.
Family Drug Support Australia
Tony Trimingham OAM started Family Drug Support Australia in 1997 after he encountered a lack of support services following the death of his son, Damien, from drugs. FDS Australia operates a national telephone support line and runs open support groups in more than 40 locations to help both people with substance use issues and their families. The service also offers structured courses and publishes written resources at its website. Call the national helpline on 1300 368186 for assistance or visit the for more information.
Al-Anon Family Groups
Al-Anon Family Groups is a support group operating Australia wide and world wide, supporting families and friends living with problem drinkers. Al-Anon assists family members to understand their alcoholic relatives and make healthy choices for themselves. It is a not for profit Organisation offering help to anyone affected by someone's drinking. Find out more
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a worldwide non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. Recovering addicts meet regularly to help each other stay clean, focusing on the solution to drug addiction. They find through the group experience that the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel.
The Narcotics Anonymous message is that "An addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live". With an Australia wide helpline and regular meetings across the metro and regional areas, they continue to be a vital support network in every community. Find out more .
Lifeline
Lifeline is a national organisation that provides support for all Australians in emotional distress via its telephone helpline and website. It’s a place where people can discuss their problems without judgement and identify options for ongoing support. Find information about and , including where to find help, at the Lifeline website. Call 131114 for around-the-clock crisis support or text 0477131114 between 12pm and midnight.
Counselling Online
Counselling Online is a free and confidential service that provides 24/7 support to people across Australia affected by alcohol or drug use. They support people at all stages of help-seeking, including those:
- Seeking support for the first time
- Waiting to access treatment
- Receiving treatment but requiring additional support, particularly after hours
- In recovery and wanting to connect with others
- Managing lapse and relapse
- Wanting to share your experience and support others, or
- Being impacted by or supporting someone with an alcohol or substance problem
Support options include chat counselling, self-assessments, an online peer support community, self-help, information articles, email support and telephone support. Find out more .
Gambling Help Online
Gambling Help Online is a free and confidential service that provides 24/7 support to people across Australia affected by gambling. Informed by extensive research and expert advice, Gambling Help Online provides:
- Free 24/7 chat and email counselling and support services
- Professional counsellors with expertise in problem gambling and online services
- A stepping stone for further help-seeking, including telephone and face-to-face gambling services
- Extensive website content, self-help information and weblinks for additional support.
Other relevant services
For a list of other relevant services, including and the , visit the Government's health directories.
- For a list of service providers that offer help and support around drug use, click .
- For a list of service providers that offer help and support around alcohol, click .
Addicted Australia premieres Tuesday 10 November, 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand. The four-part documentary series continues weekly on Tuesdays at 8.30pm and will be available with simplified Chinese and Vietnamese subtitles.
Addicted Australia has the potential to reshape the way we approach addiction from shifting public discourse to improving treatment services. Turning Point encourages viewers to continue to think and discuss addiction issues once the series has ended. Visit the to find out more about addiction.
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