This week we interview two organisations established by alcohol producers to change the way we drink … for the better.

Simon Strahan, CEO of DrinkWise, joins us to share how DrinkWise is working to develop a safer and healthier culture around drinking in Australia. DrinkWise is an independent, not-for-profit organisation funded through voluntary industry contributions across the alcohol sector.

How has Australia’s drinking culture changed over the past decade? Why are DrinkWise’s campaigns to improve the drinking habits of young people so effective? What messages resonate for different age groups as we learn to drink for quality, not quantity?

Tim Watts joins us on the phone to discuss The Smashed Project, funded by Diageo (a British multinational alcoholic beverages company).  This project uses educational theatre to break the culture of underage drinking and reduce alcohol related harm amongst young people around the world. Tim is the head of Gibber, a drama-based education group delivering the training in Australia. They have trained in 268 schools in Australia as part of the aim of The Smashed Project to reach 500,000 students worldwide.

In the news, we hear about a new app to help realistically gauge our drinking habits. We share details of a report that the rates of drug-induced deaths are on the rise in Australia. And we look at medicinal cannabis. A study suggests it can be used to treat cannabis addiction. New clinics are opening up in Australia for people to access medicinal cannabis. And we remember Olivia Newton-John’s conversation with Charlie Pickering about its medicinal benefits.

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In May, we interviewed Stu Fenton about the work he does at R12, a rehabilitation facility dedicated to LGBT+ clients. We now chat to Stu’s colleague – Casey Lucarelli – about the support she provides for lesbian women. We explore the struggles with addiction and shame that are specific to the lesbian community. What is the impact of internalised homophobia? In what areas are lesbian women most likely to develop addictions? How does R12 work with clients when in Thailand and then as alumni once they have returned home?

In the news, we review an article that captures personal stories of those effected by gambling addiction. We look at the online advertising practices of opioid manufacturers, and a story describing one woman’s personal experience of opioid addiction driven by her GP relationships. And we review a further update coming out of the coronial inquest into music festival overdoses.

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Mitch Jones is the creator and performer of Autocannibal. It is an experimental new work of solo physical theatre that explores ideas of resource depletion, environmental exhaustion and social decay through the metaphor of the performer’s body. Mitch shares with us the show’s creation story, which had its genesis in Mitch’s reckoning with the death of a friend due to addiction. We explore the challenges of working in an industry where drug and alcohol consumption is common. Mitch shares his experiences of sobriety (it makes him funnier). And we learn about the importance of focusing on what you’d rather be doing with your life.

How does physical expression support emotional exploration? What are the parallels between consumerism, addiction, and environmental destruction? What might we expect from Mitch’s show?

In the news, we review a shocking report of a death from caffeine toxicity. We reflect that the news stories about Joe Biden’s son have kick-started the conversations we need to have about addiction, and demonstrate that addiction can affect anyone from any background. And we look at Callum Brosnan’s story from the NSW coronial investigation into drug-related deaths at festivals.

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Will Lanting, from The GLLO Show, joins us as guest and co-host to reflect on his 10 years of sobriety. Will shares his journey from drinking 12-18 cans a day to his first experience of rehab, the pain of withdrawal, and the ongoing struggle that is sobriety. Is 10 years of sobriety something to celebrate? How do you celebrate without alcohol? What are the tools that can help you stay sober? And why should you look for friends who are more like ambulance drivers and less like rock climbers?

Will wants you to know that overcoming addiction is possible.

In the news, we review community responses to the presence of safe-injecting rooms in Richmond, Victoria. We reflect that addiction can affect anyone, as demonstrated by Bomber Thompson’s confession that he is an ice addict. At a time of rising global opioid use, we note that June 26 is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. And we ponder about the effectiveness of a new treatment for video game addiction, an addiction only recently classified as a disorder by the World Health Organisation.

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Dr Grant Blashki, the Lead Clinical Advisor for BeyondBlue, joins us for a chat about the myriad ways that BeyondBlue provides support to all Australians. Grant shares his views on the value GPs can add to our mental health, and we identify the options available for engaging with BeyondBlue. Grant also explains that BeyondBlue advocates strongly for the LGBTIQ+ community because improving LGBTIQ+ outcomes improves mental health outcomes.

Is there a connection between anxiety and addiction? What does it mean to develop a mental health or suicide prevention strategy? What might a visit to your GP about mental health issues look like? How can you support a friend as they deal with their anxiety or depression?

BeyondBlue provides dedicated resources for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex, and bodily, gender and sexually diverse people. We recommend you explore them all.

We learn about some powerful and effective online tools: BeyondNow App (for suicide safety planning), myCompass (online tool for managing depression and anxiety), and MindSpot Clinic (online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression).

In the news, we share some ABC news stories about the link between the colour of your alcohol and your hangover, the semi-synthetic drug Krokodil appearing in Australia and the AFL’s alleged gambling problem. And we shine a light on the example provided by Faye Lawrence, who founded her own non-drinking social group to support her sobriety.

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Simon Ruth, CEO of Thorne Harbour Health, is with us in the studio. Simon shares his history working in drug and alcohol support, and about the drug and alcohol support Thorne Habour Health provides for our community. What is behind the organisation’s name change (it was formerly the Victorian AIDS Council)? How do LGBTIQ+ specific drug and alcohol support programs improve ouroutcomes? What factors make it difficult for our community to use drugs and alcohol safely, or to abstain? And what drug and alcohol issues are specific to our older community members?

There are so many free, wholistic offerings from Thorne Harbour Health to explore.

We learn that Touchbase.org.au has resources available for understanding how alcohol and drugs might interact with hormones and anti-retroviral drugs. Dale.org.au is a new online space aimed at supporting men in heterosexual relationships who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression while exploring their same sex attraction. We revisit Rewired, a free eight week program we have spoken about before. It’s aimed at helping men who have sex with men learn skills and strategies to change their methamphetamine use and better manage their mental health. And Drink Limits is a free eight week therapeutic group looking at alcohol use and anxiety for cis and trans Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer women, gender diverse and non-binary people.

We discuss the realistic portrayal of addiction in Rocketman, and we learn that a US state is going to review up to 2,700 court cases after allegations of a judge’s alcoholism.

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Ade has been in recovery for 6 years. She joins us to discuss connecting to ‘a higher power’ – one of the steps integral to recovery. Ade shares her story of spiritual growth during recovery. What does it feel like to see yourself at the centre of the universe, with a need to control it all? Does this shift when you connect to a higher power? Does a higher power help address feelings of loneliness and worthlessness? Can you connect to a higher power if you aren’t religious? And what happens if you don’t listen to your higher power?

For our addiction of the week, we discuss the signs of workaholism.

In the news, we recommend the second Compass episode exploring eating disorders. We learn about women’s body image issues from a great ABC podcast. And we explore some of the articles at thefix.com, an online addiction and recovery resource. Is there a link between using tinder and suffering an eating disorder? Is the ‘opioid crisis’ in the U.S. exaggerated?

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The gang’s all here this week! David, Paul and Nurse Betty are in the studio – and Russ is on the phone. We have a rich discussion about the impact of addiction on our health. Can addiction impact how we manage existing chronic illnesses, like Type I diabetes? Is there a link between chronic diseases and risky behaviour? How might PrEP help us work better with our GPs? 

We touch again on why stigmatisation is a problem for those with chronic illnesses related to addiction. And rejoice that there is now a cure for Hepatitis C. 

On the small screen, we recommend a great 2-part ABC Compass series on one person’s experience of having anorexia and a binge eating disorder. And suggest you see the Rocketman movie for a window into Elton John’s experience of addiction and recovery.

We reflect on the importance of normalising mental illness after reading the personal experience of Catriona Bisset. New Zealand’s Like Minds program also aims to end mental illness discrimination. We muse on the origins of addiction and mental illness, and Nurse Betty explains the belief of addiction specialist Dr Gabor Maté that all addiction comes from a place of pain.

We consider the impact of role models after reading an article discussing Australia’s worst suburbs for smoking rates. And we again discuss the opioid crisis in the US: the State of Oklahama is suing Johnson & Johnson alleging that deceptive marketing has contributed to the crisis.

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We chat with Rachel Bowers about Lifeline’s vision for an Australia free of suicide. We learn how Lifeline provides connection, compassion and hope. How can a conversation change a life? Can Lifeline support us if we are concerned about the suicidality of someone else? Why is our community reluctant to call Lifeline … and should they be?

We recommend listening to Jaz’s story of transition on Lifeline’s new podcast series: Holding on to Hope.

As an extra item, we reflect on the mental health benefits of playing a team sport. And remind those in Melbourne that Team Melbourne can help you find an LGBTIQ+ club to join.

In the news, we discuss Victoria’s new prescription monitoring system, Safescript, and an article discussing its impact. We relate it to our previous conversation with Ali about opioid addiction. A study discusses the prevalence of pre-drinking habits across age groups and population groups. We discuss difference between drinking norms in Australia and Europe. After some shocking news this week, we consider the call for new investment in social housing to support those who experience homelessness.

Our addiction of the week is pornography. When does watching online adult content become an addiction? We recommend SLAA as a source of support.

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It’s the annual JOY 94.9 Radiothon! In this shorter-than-usual episode we reconnect with past guests Tracy, Big Daddy, Tosh, Chris and PDM and we check in on how they are doing. We reflect on the importance of storytelling through community radio. Do community connections support fulfilling lives in sobriety? What role does JOY 94.9 – and shows like Hooked – play in connecting us to the best of Melbourne’s LGBTI+ community? What has the recovery community given us? Does sobriety make life better?

JOY 94.9 is a not-for-profit volunteer-based community radio station that relies on your support to survive and grow. If you love JOY 94.9 as much as we do, you don’t have to wait for our Radiothon to donate, become a member, sponsor or volunteer. You can show your love any time!

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