Victorian coroner recommends drug purity testing after investigating deaths of five men

7 April 2021

The Victorian coroner has recommended the Victorian State Government urgently introduce drug testing for the first time, after the deaths of five young men who thought they were taking MDMA.

‘She saved my life’: how a stranger helped Fiona O’Loughlin fight her alcoholism

29 January 2021

Comedian Fiona O’Loughlin, 57, was homeless and battling alcoholism when she met Sue Underwood, 59, a nurse turned hospitality entrepreneur. The encounter proved a turning point for them both

Inside the life of a secret alcoholic

3 December 2020

She’d leave work for a coffee break and buy a bottle of white wine. She’d consume roughly around 80 standard drinks, within one week.

A conversation with Prof. Dan Lubman

16 November 2020

If you’re like most people, the word “addiction” might conjure up an image of a shady person clutching a paper bag filled with cheap red wine. But according to the National Survey of Mental Health, one in five Australians have a problem with drugs, alcohol or gambling at some point in their lives.

Sarah hid her drug addiction from everyone she knew for over a year

12 November 2020

From desperation to devastation, Sarah’s infertility journey slowly led her down a path of self-destruction. For years, she and her husband tried to have a baby.

"I drank three bottles of wine a day as an alcoholic"

8 November 2020

Heidi would go to work and try to act normally but she was hiding a devastating secret. Then one day she saw a post on social media that changed her life.

Addiction is a chronic health condition - why isn’t it treated like one?

2 November 2020

The number of Australians experiencing addiction is increasing, but support isn’t. We spoke with Professor Dan Lubman, from SBS’s new series Addicted Australia, to find out why.

Addiction on screen: How movies and TV shows shape community attitudes

29 October 2020

Could dodging stereotypes on screen and, instead, telling real stories of addiction help people with drug and alcohol problems get help sooner?

Addiction almost killed AFL star Rod Owen, but he was hiding the agony of abuse

3 April 2021

As evening approached on October 21, 2018, an emaciated, sickly man with hollow eyes and an agitated manner staggered along Bay Street in Port Melbourne, limping and muttering, scattering startled passers-by. Could it really be him? The once-great AFL footballer? Was it really Rod Owen?

Why now is the time for Australia to rethink addiction

11 January 2021

The year 2020 has challenged us all. The bushfires and then the pandemic forced us to reflect on what’s important, how we respond to crises as a community, and the ways we connect and support each other.

A mental disorder, not a personal failure

14 December 2020

At the start of the pandemic we saw a surge in alcohol sales and reported drinking. Almost one-third of people who purchased more alcohol expressed concerns about their own drinking, or that of someone in their household.

“My mother encouraged me to imitate her drinking. I've now struggled with alcohol for 50 years"

17 November 2020

When I was approached by Blackfella Films to take part in a new treatment program with Turning Point as part of SBS’s documentary Addicted Australia, I didn’t hesitate.

"I've been told I don't look like a drug addict"

11 November 2020

Dr Dan Lubman from Turning Point, who also featured on the premiere of Addicted Australia last night, joined the Body+Soul Podcast to talk about his mission to help others overcome their addictions and the need to Rethink Addiction.

On my way to meet friends, I'd stop at a TAB and lose all my money

5 November 2020

Every pay day for nine years, Lucas gambled away his wages. Last year, the 39-year-old applied for a treatment program as part of the new SBS documentary series, Addicted Australia. Here, he reflects on his recovery.

“I was driving drunk with my kids in the car"

30 October 2020

Looking back, *Sharon describes her old self as a “functioning alcoholic.” She managed to hold down jobs, obtain promotions and to the outside world she seemed normal. But “looking normal”, she says, was the backbone of her denial.

We need to stop treating addiction as a personal failure

4 November 2020

Addiction, as is commonly believed, isn’t just a matter of willpower. It’s not about having to reach rock bottom, and it does not exclusively affect the downtrodden, the homeless or those lacking self-control.

Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System

2 March 2021

Today is a historic day with the tabling in Parliament of the final report and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Rethink Addiction Webinar

18 December 2020

Off the back of the incredible SBS series, Addicted Australia, and all of the support that Rethink Addiction received from our partners and the general public, we wrapped up 2020 with a free virtual event to discuss the role of frontline workers in the alcohol and other drugs (AoD) space.

Healthcare workers want an integrated approach to addiction

24 November 2020

GPs, paramedics and addiction support service workers say they are 'stretched to the limit' when responding to and treating people living with an addiction.

Fiona O'Loughlin's Battle Against The Drug That Kills You As You Kick It

15 November 2020

In your circle of family and friends, it's estimated that at least 7 of them will have faced a battle with addiction at some stage of their lives. The Quicky investigates the drug that is legal and an accepted social lubricant, but is also one of the deadliest drugs to ditch.

"My daughter's entire personality changed"

10 November 2020

Shortly after the break up of her marriage, I noticed my daughter Sarah was experiencing frequent and significant changes in mood.

Australia is awash with addictive habits; we need to clean up our act

4 November 2020

Heidi is 31 and takes a swig from a bottle of wine hidden in her wardrobe after she wakes up. Ruben is 48 and injects heroin three times a day. Lucas is 39 and gambles away 80 per cent of his pay every month. Matthew is 33 and drinks a bottle of whiskey every day.

Ten Australians confront their addictions in a powerful new documentary series

20 October 2020

Premiering Tuesday 10 November on SBS, Addicted Australia is a bold, revelatory and inspiring documentary that puts a spotlight on Australia's addiction crisis in the most powerful and deeply personal way.