Andrew's life has been marked by immense challenges. As a forced adoptee, he endured a difficult start, followed by psychological and physical abuse at school, leaving him deeply affected by complex trauma.

At 15, Andrew turned to alcohol, and by 20, he reached a point of despair, owing a significant debt and resorting to robbing his own family's house, even attempting suicide. This triggered a path of destructive addiction as he used various substances to escape his pain.

Homelessness and imprisonment became part of Andrew's life due to his addiction, but he never truly hit rock bottom as he always felt he was already there. The weight of his past experiences made life unbearable, devoid of meaning.

However, Andrew's journey took a positive turn when he finally embraced change and committed to healing. With no other option, he confronted his addiction and trauma head-on. Since 1994, he has been involved in the AOD field, dedicating 17 years to Corrective Services NSW. Andrew now shares his story to inspire others in similar situations and devotes his time to helping them.

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CREDITS

Hosted by Ruben

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Special thanks to Andrew for sharing his story.

Lifeline would like to acknowledge the lives lost to suicide and recognise those who have survived suicide attempts. And those who struggle today or in the past with thoughts of suicide, mental health issues and crisis situations, we acknowledge all those who have felt the deep impact of suicide, including those who love, care and support people experiencing suicidality and those experiencing the pain and bereavement through suicide. We respect collaboration with people who have a lived or living experience of suicide and mental health issues and value their contribution to the work we do.