September 11 terrorist attacks sparked 20-year battle for victim's twin brother

ABC

10 September 2021

"Alcohol was something that I used to numb the pain and, many years down the track, it was anything to get me out of myself," he said. "There was shopping, gambling and alcohol — and then drugs.

WA leads the nation with the highest number of drug overdose deaths

ABC

1 September 2021

Do you know someone who has accidentally overdosed? New research has today revealed that since the turn of this century there have been more than 34,000 overdose deaths in Australia and most of them are unintentional.

International Overdose Awareness Day

Penington Institute

31 August 2021

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. Time to Remember. Time to Act. The event has been run by the Penington Institute since 2012.

The uncomfortable truth about drug overdose and suicide

Monash University

29 August 2021

For the fifth consecutive year, more than 2000 Australians have died as a result of a drug overdose, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise public health interventions and policies that work.

Study shows COVID-19 restrictions leads to increased alcohol-related harms

Monash University

5 August 2021

New research examining ambulance attendances for alcohol-related harms during COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria has found that attendances to homes increased by 9 percent in 2020, with those from more socioeconomic advantaged areas showing the largest percentage change.

How can opioid deaths be reduced?

RACGP

3 June 2021

It is no revelation that death rates among people with opioid dependence is higher than that of the general population.

How to know if you can quit alcohol alone or need professional help

ABC

7 April 2021

Whether you're planning to go completely sober or just cut down on the amount you drink, in some cases you can succeed using tried-and-true strategies such as avoiding social triggers and building support networks. But in other cases, seeing your doctor — or another professional — is essential. Here, two experts show how to know the difference.

Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System

Turning Point

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.

Professor Dan Lubman Appointed Member of the Order of Australia

Turning Point

26 January 2021

Professor Dan Lubman has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medical education, research, treatment and policy in the field of addiction

A mental disorder, not a personal failure

The Conversation

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"

Mamamia

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.

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

Mamamia

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"

News.com.au

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.

We need to stop treating addiction as a personal failure

SBS

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.

Push to ban credit cards in online gambling

News.com.au

10 September 2021

There are calls to ban the use of credit cards in online betting platforms over fears they are causing irreparable financial harm.

Urgent call to combat crisis killing more Aussies than Covid-19

News.com.au

31 August 2021

While deaths from drug overdoses are largely hidden from the public eye, chilling data has revealed just how urgently the issue needs addressing as a national health crisis.

Urgent call to combat crisis killing more Aussies than Covid-19

Penington Institute

31 August 2021

For six consecutive years, drug-related fatalities have surpassed 2000 — more than the road toll and deaths related to Covid-19, according to findings released by the Penington Institute.

The uncomfortable truth about drug overdose and suicide

Monash University

29 August 2021

For the fifth consecutive year, more than 2000 Australians have died as a result of a drug overdose, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise public health interventions and policies that work.

Problem gambling spirals across Queensland

ABC

28 July 2021

Twenty-one years ago when David McAnalen entered a licensed venue with a gaming room, it wasn't unusual for him to lose thousands of dollars.

Advocates say most gamblers are losing more than ever

ABC

16 May 2021

The week before Australia's first COVID-19 lockdown, Barry* lost $3,000 on the pokies. He is among many telling their story under a pseudonym due to the stigma around gambling.

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

ABC

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.

Alcohol support services stretched

ABC

15 February 2021

New data has revealed Tasmanians are spending more on alcohol than ever before, and support services are already feeling the effects.

Why now is the time for Australia to rethink addiction

Monash University

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.

Inside the life of a secret alcoholic

Podcast

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

Health Link

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.

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

Body and Soul

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

Sydney Morning Herald

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.

Keith Urban opens up about 15 years of sobriety and effects of dad's alcohol struggles

Today

9 September 2021

The country music star spoke to the Australian edition of Rolling Stone about getting sober 15 years ago after having grown up with a father who had his own issues with alcoholism. Kidman, 54, staged an intervention just four months after they tied the knot.

Overdose deaths remain stubbornly high: we need to do more to save lives

Croakey

31 August 2021

International Overdose Awareness Day, being marked today (31 August), is proclaimed as the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

Lazy drug journalism 101: The petty crime montage

AOD Media Watch

30 August 2021

Last year, AOD Media Watch published a piece about the Cranbourne Leader naming and shaming people who had committed petty drug-related crimes on their Facebook page.

If you’re drinking or betting more in lockdown, you’re not alone. But watch for these signs of addiction

The Conversation

11 August 2021

For the millions of Australians currently living under lockdowns — many without clarity on when things might return to “normal” — there’s no doubt the restrictions on our day-to-day lives present a variety of challenges and hardships. But for people who have addictions, or who are at risk of developing an addiction, lockdowns can pose a unique set of difficulties.

'Huge stigma' attached to ice addiction prevents people from seeking help, treatment

ABC

25 July 2021

Jack Nagle was 19 when he was introduced to crystal methamphetamine, or ice, for the first time. As his use increased, Jack experienced periods of psychosis, often remembering little, if anything, of those episodes. The toll it took on his health and on his relationships was devastating.

Pressure to limit opening hours to prevent problem gambling

ABC

3 May 2021

"You don't want people to know that you are gambling money away because people don't understand it, that it is an illness."

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

ABC

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?

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

The Age

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

Rethink Addiction Webinar

Rethink Addiction

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

ABC

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

Mamamia

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"

Mamamia

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

Brisbane Times

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.