The Truth About Addiction

Joe Williams is well known as an elite sportsman who played rugby league and was a professional boxer. He is even a better human being. 

The Joe we talk to in this episode is a proud Wiradjuri/Wolgalu, First Nationals Aboriginal man, who supports the community in their mental wellbeing. Joe discusses the effect of substance abuse in his past and his journey to sobriety. Joe is 17 years sober. 

Follow Joe’s inspirational works on Instagram: @joewilliams_tew

Georgina got clean in the room of Narcotics Anonymous. All her knowledge on recovery comes from the 12 steps program. Growing up, there were a lot of trauma, violence and alcohol around.

When Georgina’s father passed away at the age of 9, her mother couldn’t cope. Georgina took over the household, became a little adult and ran the house. As soon as her mother got together with her stepfather, he started to groom her, and the sexual abuse began at age 11, continuing on for another 8 years. She found a way to escape through substances, with the following years ensued by addiction, bad relationships and at times, heavy domestic violence.

Georgina is now 26 years clean. After all she has been through, she is an incredible mother and a good friend with a heart of gold. 

Dan has done more in the past 3 years of being clean, than the previous 22 years of using. 
Dan was already addicted to heroin by the time he left high school. His drug addiction escalated tremendously after his brother’s passing. Dan overdosed 13 times, and each time, went straight to using from getting discharged in hospital. He didn’t care. He lost all hope. He just wanted to die. 
After 7 attempts of rehab, Dan got clean and stayed clean. He is now married, living in the Sunshine Coast, competed in his first body building competition, put together the first NA men camp on the Sunny Coast. He manages to do things that he couldn’t do while using. Most of all, he is a happy man.

42 years free from all drugs, Robert has stayed clean since 18 years of age. His drug use started since he was a baby, when his mum used to put a quarter of a Valium into his milk bottle so he could stay asleep for a long time. Both Dad and Grandad were alcoholics, he came from a family with a history of alcohol and drug abuse. He never learnt to have a proper relationship with anybody as a young man, he only learnt to take what you could get. 

Robert talks about his turning points and the ‘suggested things’ that he, or anyone, must do, in order to stay on the path of recovery. 

Allan grew up in a rough neighbourhood in Melbourne. He hated school and used to have a drink before school to ‘take the edge off’. For him it started with the drinks, and the disease of addiction progressed over his teenage years to drugs: pot, speed, acid, mushroom, heroin, and finally prescription drugs. 

Allan tells his story of getting clean, the multiple relapses, the second surrender (spiritual awakening), and now at 23 years clean, a proud father and husband who has many wise words and experiences. Today Allan helps other people in recovery and reaps the rewards. 

Jye had been gambling hard for 16 years. Today, 34 years of age, he is 171 days clean from all substances and gambling, doing an amazing job as a father and a human being.

Growing up in housing commission as a young child, Jye was surrounded by drugs and bad habits, so he was driven to work hard ‘to get out of there’. He was an angry kid at school, got through many fights as a teenager and a young man, and partied hard for a long time. At 18, he discovered gambling. That got hold of him quickly and relentlessly. At one point, he lost 300K within 6 months, lost his self worth and his family. 

Jye’s story is one that of dazzling inspiration and earnest determination.

Growing up watching his older brother Dylan play for bands in clubs, Jesse was envious and wanted to do music too, so he picked up the piano at 12 years of age, learnt to play and started off a tremendous passion in music. Jesse later on joined his brother Dylan forming their band Sailing In Space, producing out of this world music. Jesse talks about their band, the devotion and hardship they experienced, and supporting his brother Dylan getting through his addiction. 

Their latest song ’Breather’ is a reminder to come back to the most simple motions of life, to breathe, to let the stress and anxiety go, and be back to yourself. 

Claudia shares her story of a young child who ‘didn’t belong in the world’. Food and exercise were her first addiction before she found the substances. Claudia experienced sexual trauma at 8 years old, and by 12, had her first drink. From heavy drinking, constant bullies in high school, quick progression to party drugs, then prescription drugs, she finally put her hand up for help. 

5 and a half months clean today, Claudia is back on her feet strong, perceptive and vigilant on her recovery.  

Hollie grew up in a ‘rough space’. She always felt like she was alone throughout her childhood and adult life. Hanging out with the wrong crowd, surviving toxic relationships, a lot of bad things happened when she was under the influence, as she was desperately trying to numb herself with drugs. 

Hollie is now 16 months clean and striving to be a DV counsellor. 

Robyn has a total of 31 years clean time with multiple relapses. When I met her, she was a beautiful, talented young lady ,always with a guitar by her side. 

By 18 years of age, Robyn was a ‘hard core’ heroin user. Her life was focused on providing for the habit.

Today, Robyn is 6 years and 2 weeks clean. She released an album called ‘First’ on SoundCloud, and is working on another album. Listen to her story on her past struggles, on the many detoxes and rehabilitation, and the sad loss of her eldest daughter.