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Living Free

The Living Free Crew

Talk on substance misuse, alcoholism and other addictions. Information on support groups is given.

news & politics

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AA and Al-Anon - Tom

Living Free ·

2023/02/02

Tom was a happy child with loving parents, brought up in home where there was no drinking, but his maternal grandmother had died an alcoholic. As a young man Tom was quite shy and sometimes felt separate from others, but when he had his first drink of alcohol he found an ease and confidence that he had not had before. This led to daily drinking, difficult relationships and eventually what Tom describes as 'spiritual sickness'. After a couple of experiences with rehab Tom became ready to live a life

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fleur

Living Free ·

2023/01/19

Fleur’s story of recovery reflects the true meaning of the saying in the rooms of AA “Keep coming back”. Fleur never felt comfortable in her own skin growing up. She reflects on the different toxic behaviours she used as a child before picking up a drink to make her feel safe, like obsessive compulsion, food and self-harm. Coming from a small country town and being the youngest of five girls (including a twin), she got in trouble a lot in at school and quickly turned to drinking in her early teens

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Gamblers Anonymous - Alison on 12JAN2023

Living Free ·

2023/01/12

Alison comes on the show for a second time and shares an insight into her poker machine addiction and her recovery through Gamblers Anonymous. Now over four years without gambling she shares her experience and how her attraction to excitement led her seek out pokies and develop an obsession with gambling.If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, then maybe Gamblers Anonymous could help – phone (03) 9696 6108 or visit their website gaaustralia.org.au for

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North Richmond Medically Supervised Injection Centre...

Living Free ·

2023/01/05

The Residents for Victoria Street Drug Solutions Incorporated (RVSDS) is a group of Yarra residents who successfully advocated for a Medically Supervised Injection Centre (MSIC) to be trialled within the Victoria Street, Richmond precinct to address the high levels of public drug taking, unacceptable rates of overdoses and fatalities, and the associated drug dealing, crime and risk to public health and safety.In this repeat program of the Living Free show, Judy and Melody outline their campaign and

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Doors Wide Open - Tanya and Leigh on 29DEC2022

Living Free ·

2022/12/29

Tanya and Leigh are Peer Support Workers at for Doors Wide Open - a peer-led community support service that assists individuals and families impacted by Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD). DWO also offer support for people impacted by homelessness or rough sleeping.Tanya and Leigh share their lived experience of being helped by Doors Wide Open to break their addiction to methamphetamine (ice) and to go on to become a Peer Support Workers at DWO and be able to help other addicts and their families recover

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Jane on 22DEC2022

Living Free ·

2022/12/22

Jane was on the show in February 2021 and comes back nearly two years later to discuss how Alcoholics Anonymous meetings have continued to help her to recover and return to a normal life without dependence on alcohol.Jane talks about rebuilding trust with her family and friends, being clear-eyed and on the ball at work and helping other alcoholics trying to recover from alcoholism in the fellowship of AA.If you think that alcohol may be a problem, then Alcoholics Anonymous could help you. Give them

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SMART Recovery - Neia Wong, Group Facilitator

Living Free ·

2022/12/15

Claudineia Wong is a group facilitator at SMART Recovery Australia. SMART Recovery is an international organisation that assists people in recovery from addictive behaviours through group meetings based on the principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. In this episode Neia discusses the role of the group meetings in helping people to cope with urges, maintain motivation to recover from their problematic behaviours, solve problems that arise in daily living and learn to live a more balanced

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Gamblers Anonymous - Brenden on 08DEC2022

Living Free ·

2022/12/08

Brenden shares his gambling journey and insight into his pokies addiction and his recovery through Gamblers Anonymous. Now three and a half years without gambling he shares his insight into how his early behaviour, anxiety and attraction to excitement led him seek out pokies and gamble obsessively for 13 years.If you’re having trouble with gambling, or have a friend or family member that does, then maybe Gamblers Anonymous could help – phone (03) 9696 6108 or visit their website gaaustralia.org.au

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Overeaters Anonymous - Carmen

Living Free ·

2022/12/01

Carmen grew up in Germany in a family where there was alcohol abuse and violence. In her adult life, she developed a compulsion to control her eating and fell into a pattern of food restriction followed by bingeing. Carmen found herself preoccupied with food and when she realised it had become a problem began to look for help. A therapist's advice to eat in moderation did not work for her but through the support of Overeaters Anonymous and an understanding of the addictive nature of her relationship

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Al-Anon Family Groups - Rhonda from Alberta, Canada

Living Free ·

2022/11/24

Rhonda started life in Ontario, Canada, but as a young child moved with her alcoholic father and three siblings, without their mother, to another province, Alberta. Here she grew up with a father whose neglectful behaviour forced Rhonda and her siblings to fend for themselves. Rhonda took refuge in school and benefitted from the care of teachers who noticed her and gave her opportunities. As an adult, Rhonda was led to Al-Anon by a mentor who recognised her anger as a symptom of the family disease

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Claude on 17NOV2022

Living Free ·

2022/11/17

Claude grew up in an immigrant family and always felt a bit of an outsider. His dad didn’t drink excessively but he suffered years of physical violence and subsequently depression because of his father’s rage. Claude sought out alcohol at and early age and started using drugs as well as a teenager. He left school early and did an apprenticeship, but his drug and alcohol use severely impacted his work ethic and his employment prospects.Claude gravitated towards drugs as he became “punch happy” using

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Gamblers Anonymous - Steve on 10NOV2022

Living Free ·

2022/11/10

Steve has been off the punt for about 4 years thanks to help from Gamblers Anonymous and talks about how he was introduced to underage drinking and gambling in his mid-teens with his friends. He talks about his first bet being a win and then he was hooked, trying to recreate that buzz of winning. Gambling strengthened his relationship with his friends, and later he sought out friends who enjoyed gambling. Steve gambled for about 20 years before he could no longer hide it from his wife. It was a

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SMART Recovery Australia - CEO, April Long

Living Free ·

2022/11/03

April Long has lived experience of family members with alcoholism and other addictions. For many members of her family this has led to interactions with the criminal justice system. As CEO of SMART Recovery Australia, April is committed to building an organisation that gives people the tools to address their own problematic behaviours, allowing them to make positive changes for themselves, their families and ultimately their communities.If you're concerned about your own problematic behaviour or the

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Al-Anon Family Groups - Mike

Living Free ·

2022/10/27

Mike grew up in a household in which emotions were suppressed. Mike attributes this to the intergenerational effects of alcoholism and the dysfunctional ways in which his parents responded to life's challenges. A medical professional recommended that Mike attend an Al-Anon meeting and there he discovered a much wider range of emotional expression than he had previously been exposed to. Over the years Mike has found the Al-Anon program to be invaluable in helping him navigate the challenges,

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Rachel on 20OCT2022

Living Free ·

2022/10/20

Rachel grew up in a family of musicians and spent a lot of her childhood travelling the country with her family for work. It resulted in her attending lots of different schools, and it eventually took its toll on her wellbeing. Her dad and grandfather both drank, and alcohol played a big part in her family’s life.Rachel left home in her mid-teens to pursue a career in a band and alcohol was ever-present at her band’s gigs and venues. A bout of post-natal depression with her second child

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Gamblers Anonymous - Robbert on 13OCT2022

Living Free ·

2022/10/13

Robbert has been off the punt for 17 years thanks to help from Gamblers Anonymous and talks about how he was introduced to gambling in his late teens and early twenties around Sydney’s casinos and nightclubs. He talks about his first big win and how he ploughed it all back into the pokies, plus more the next day. Robbert’s life deteriorated as he spent his weekly pay-packet on the pokies on payday and existed on loans from colleagues, friends and family till his next payday. After realizing the

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Al-Anon Family Groups - Robert on 6 October 2022

Living Free ·

2022/10/06

Coming from a family affected across generations by substance abuse, and facing physical and emotional challenges, Robert experienced much unhappiness as a teenager and young adult. He has found recovery in the world-wide fellowship of Al-Anon. During the pandemic lockdowns, Robert began attending Al-Anon zoom meetings all over the world and through this global sharing of experience, strength and hope he has found himself enjoying better mental health than he experienced before the pandemic. Robert

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Dr Constance Scharff on 29SEP2022

Living Free ·

2022/09/29

Dr Constance Scharff has both professional qualifications and personal recovery experience. Since completing her PhD in Transformative Studies, she has dedicated her life towards helping others with mental health, trauma, and addiction issues through evidence-based, holistic treatments and solutions. Dr Scharff is an author, speaker, and advocate and specializes in radically transformative personal experience. Dr Scharff is an award-winning author of books including, 'Ending Addiction for Good' and

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Doors Wide Open - Tyril Houghton and Shane Thompson...

Living Free ·

2022/09/22

Tyril Houghton is Chairperson of the board and Shane Thompson is a Peer Support Worker at for Doors Wide Open - a peer-led community support service that assists individuals and families impacted by Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD). DWO also offer support for people impacted by homelessness or rough sleeping.Tyril shares her lived experience of using education to break down the stigma associated with addiction and to help drug users and their families to access community support in Bunbury, Western

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Matt on 15SEP2022

Living Free ·

2022/09/15

Matt grew up in a good family, but his dad had been affected by his own father’s drinking and his mum compensated with enabling behaviour. He developed some bad habits at primary school and felt that he was missing out on material things in life. Matt started early to take money, cigarettes and alcohol from his home to share with other kids at school to gain acceptance. He got the taste for alcohol in his very early teens and loved the effect, that feeling of warmth and acceptance.Matt’s drinking

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