Erin grew up with her three siblings in a family where alcoholism had affected several generations. She describes her family as 'fractured' as each member coped as best they could with the discomfort they felt. Erin herself sought solace in alcohol, sugar and unhealthy relationships, until she found, through Al-Anon and other 12 Step Fellowships, better ways to manage her life and overcome the trauma that had kept her bound in unhealthy habits.If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300 252 666 or go online at al-anon.org.au for more information.Show your support by donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donate#Alcoholism #Al-Anon #Recovery The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening. 

This is a replay of an interview with El and Summer about recovery from compulsive addiction through Narcotics Anonymous recorded on 29 November 2019El didn’t have an idyllic childhood as her parents separated when she was 12 years old, and her mum was unwell. She suffered physical and emotional abuse and turned to drinking and smoking marijuana in her early teens to cope with the anxiety, fear and shame. El’s drug taking escalated quickly and she moved to amphetamines and heroin and contracted Hep C. Her mum and sister helped her to get into rehab and her first exposure to Narcotics Anonymous. However, El continued using for some years until; with two young children she had a moment of clarity and sought help again in NA. Now with over 18 months clean her life is better than ever thanks to the support from members of NA.Summer also had a difficult childhood as her parents separated when she was just 2 years old, and she lived with her mum.  She was severely bullied at school and started drinking excessively and smoking weed in her early teens, progressing to ice and party drugs in her late teens. Summer eventually admitted she had a problem, and her mum helped her to get into rehab where she was introduced to NA. She finally found where she belonged and has been clean for over 16 months.If you would like to find out more about Narcotics Anonymous or need to talk to somebody, then please call 1300 652 820 at any time or go online at www.navic.net.au.Show your support to the Living Free show and keep us on air by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand/or donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateMusic played in this episode was provided by the artists, via Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (https://amrap.org.au/):Ray Ramon - Move Your Body [https://amrap.org.au/release/ray-ramon-move-your-body] @16:47Madison Daniel - NIRVANA [https://amrap.org.au/release/madison-daniel-nirvana] @34:54Mark Howard – Scarlette [https://amrap.org.au/release/mark-howard-scarlette] @55:40

Laura has come back on the show, now with 9 years of sobriety, and talks about the impact of her drinking on herself and her family, and what brought her into Alcoholics Anonymous.Laura discusses the transformation that she went through and how it fundamentally changed the way she thinks about herself and others. She also discusses the spiritual concept of AA and her podcast “That’s Not in the Book”.If you would like to find out a bit more about alcoholism for yourself or a friend, then you can give Alcoholics Anonymous a call on 1300 222 222 or check out their website www.aa.org.au.If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300 252 666 or go online at al-anon.org.au for more information.Laura’s previous podcast from 2023: https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode/alcoholics-anonymous-laura-16mar2023You can show your support to the Living Free show and keep us on air by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand/or donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateMusic played in this episode was provided by the artists, via Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (https://amrap.org.au/):@16:10 - JC and the Tree - Already Free (https://amrap.org.au/track/jc-and-the-tree-already-free-already-free)@33:33 - Rustyn - Beating for You [Featuring Xtina Louise] (https://amrap.org.au/release/rustyn-beating-for-you-feat-xtina-louise-1)@53:07 - Michael Cristiano - Anima Antica (https://amrap.org.au/track/michael-cristiano-anima-antica)

This is a replay of an early interview recorded remotely in the Covid-19 era in April 2020, as we struggled with new technology to keep the show on-air.Drew started gambling in his mid-teens, starting out with a small bet on a horse, graduated to other sporting events and eventually it snowballed into gambling on virtually anything. He started gambling to fill a void in his life and it seeped into every aspect of his life and he was unable to separate gambling from his work, family and social activities. Drew started looking for help when he got found out by his mum and she recommended that he seek treatment. He found help and understanding in Gamblers Anonymous but recovery didn’t come easily. He has been in and out of GA a few times and now realizes that he can’t do it alone without the help of his GA friends.If you’re having trouble with gambling, or has 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 information and to see a list of local meetings.You can show your support to the Living Free show and keep us on air by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand/or donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateMusic played in this episode was provided by the artists, via Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (https://amrap.org.au/).

Join Mitch as he finds out what ten years of sobriety from compulsive gambling looks like.   For help with compulsive gambling -  https://gaaustralia.org.au/meetings/?tsml-day=any&tsml-region=vic  

Emma grew up in a dysfunctional home and progressed from alcohol to pot at 13 years old and drugs at 15.  A friend gave her heroin at 17 to lose weight and she was hooked from the start and eventually she moved on to methamphetamine. She loved the way drugs made her feel, fitting in for the first time in her life.Emma had three young children that were taken away from her in her depths of drug addiction and this gave her the spark that she needed to change her life. She tried suicide a few times and through family and social media she found a way to stop using. A friend took her to her first Narcotics Anonymous meeting, she identified and realized that others felt the way she did about themselves. Emma threw herself into recovery, education and helping other addicts recover and eventually managed to get equal access to her children again.  She now has two teenaged girls and a son in his early twenties, is enjoying living with her partner and letting her kids live their own lives.If you would like to find out more about Narcotics Anonymous or need to talk to somebody, then please call 1300 652 820 at any time or go online at www.navic.net.au.Roses in the Ocean - Australia's national lived experience of suicide organisation https://rosesintheocean.com.au/Emma’s previous podcast from 2018: https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-201809271300/narcotics-anonymous-emma-and-kiandraShow your support to the Living Free show and keep us on air by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand/or donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateMusic played in this episode was provided by the artists, via Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (https://amrap.org.au/):@16:37 Andy Fillmore - Passing notes (https://amrap.org.au/track/andy-fillmore-passing-notes)@ 33:02 Sarah and Silas - 1000 Star Hotel (https://amrap.org.au/release/sarah-and-silas-1000-star-hotel)@ 53:18 Gusto Gusto - Pan's Tune & West Preston Lullaby (https://amrap.org.au/track/gusto-gusto-pans-tune-pans-tune & https://amrap.org.au/track/gusto-gusto-west-preston-lullaby-gusto-gusto)

Sanjay has come back on the show after another 7 years of sobriety and talks about his original journey out of uncontrolled drinking, how he found Alcoholics Anonymous and how AA has changed his life.Sanjay discusses the transformation that he went through and how it fundamentally changed the way he thinks about himself and others. Gone is his low self-esteem, ego and fear that drove his existence during the drinking, replaced with hope and confidence of a future without the craving for alcohol. Sanjay has been sober and in AA now for over 19 years.If you would like to find out a bit more about alcoholism for yourself or a friend, then you can give Alcoholics Anonymous a call on 1300 222 222 or check out their website www.aa.org.au.If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300 252 666 or go online at al-anon.org.au for more information.Sanjay’s previous podcast from 2017: https://www.3cr.org.au/livingfree/episode-201709071300/alcoholics-anonymous-christie-sanjayYou can show your support to the Living Free show and keep us on air by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand/or donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donateMusic played in this episode was provided by the artists, via Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (https://amrap.org.au/):@16:33 Telita Lee & The Huskies - When I Sing (https://amrap.org.au/release/telita-lee-the-huskies-when-i-sing)@32:22 Karen Law - Lifeline (https://amrap.org.au/track/karen-law-lifeline-lifeline)@52:13 boi&eSKae - Feel It In My Bones (https://amrap.org.au/track/boieskae-feel-it-in-my-bones-feel-it-in-my-bones)

Karl spent his childhood looking forward to growing up so that he could enjoy the social life his parents enjoyed with lots of drinking and gambling. Neither Karl nor his parents considered drinking and gambling to be dangerous, but for Karl, who won a substantial amount of money at his first poker game as a young teenager, gambling, drinking and drug use soon became problematic. He entered re-hab, mainly for his substance abuse, and found it helpful, but it was only after his gambling robbed him of hope and he entered a re-hab program where problem gambling was addressed, that he found the lasting help of GA. Now clean, sober and free of the compulsion to gamble, Karl is making amends for the past and helping people still struggling with their addictions. The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening. 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 information and to see a list of local meetings.If you are a partner, family member or friend of someone with a gambling problem you may find the help you need with a GAM-ANON group. The GA website has a link to their website and contact details: gaaustralia.org.au/gam-anonShow your support to the Living Free show by:subscribing to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/subscribeand donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donate

Sheridan and her husband were friends as children, went out together as teenagers and got married when Sheridan was 20 and her husband 21. Her husband had taken a pledge not to drink until he was 21 and kept it. But when he did begin to drink socially, it was problematic almost immediately and Sheridan soon became anxious, covering for him by taking on too much responsibility for the children and family business. Her anxiety progressed to despair as her husband's mental health deteriorated, and she too became mentally unwell. At rock bottom she found Al-Anon and eventually her husband found AA. Sheridan's husband credits Sheridan's recovery in Al-Anon for his own journey to sobriety.If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300 252 666 or go online at al-anon.org.au for more information.Show your support by donating to 3CR https://www.3cr.org.au/donate#Alcoholism #Al-Anon #Recovery The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening. 

This is a repeat of a conversation with sober bartender, musician and producer Ben. It also includes details of an upcoming Harm Reduction Victoria event - To commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day this year, we are having a big Community Feed, a Screening of the movie "Love, in a time of Fentanyl" and Naloxone training session with A naloxone kit for everyone at the end of it- ALL FOR FREE!!!! FRIDAY 30 August STARTING AT 12 Noon at 299- 305 Victoria Street Brunswick ( Train line- Upfield - Brunswick station, and Tram line - Sydney Rd / Victoria St stop ) CALL 9329 1500if you have any questions. 

Alan began eating addictively in mid-childhood. Soon he found himself stealing, sneaking and bingeing food. As an overweight teenager Alan would eat in isolation and in his adult life spent years trying to manage his weight through diets and exercise. But he continued to eat addictively even as it resulted in obesity and ill-health. At one stage he was given some Food Addict in Recovery literature but dismissed it as another diet program that was bound to fail. Eventually, Alan walked into an FA meeting, came out of denial and began his recovery. He practises the 12 Steps of FA every day and has arrested his addictive behaviour.