The Truth About Addiction

Former Black Power president Phil Paikea was born in a little country town, Helensville, when ‘respect was paramount’. His parents were hard working, they didn’t even have a Tv, life was hard, and there were a lot of domestic violence. Phil ran away from home at 16 years old and was introduced to alcohol, drugs and gang life. 

Phil now works to help other men living a violence free life. He is the Lead Facilitator of Safe Man Safe Family, and plays a vital role in It’s Not Ok campaigne and White Ribbon ride, promoting healthy masculinity and challenging stereotypical gender roles. He is ‘still very much in love’ with his beautiful wife Rowena after 44 years of marriage. Together they have fostered 243 children in the last 20 years.

Phil’s redemption story is raw and powerful.

Www.safemansafefamily.org.nz

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

I met Michelle in 1982. Michelle was one of the founding members of recovery in Australia. She got clean in February 1979, after the love of her life, heroin, gave up on her. She first started using heroin at 12 years of age. At 14 years old, she left school. By the age of 15, young, bold and fearless, Michelle left Australia heading to South East Asia, where the best heroin was, because she wanted to just live in an opium den and use everyday for the rest of her life. That was her heaven.

Michelle articulately narrates her very colourful life, brimming with laughter, honesty and momentous events. 

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Logan had a perfect childhood. He excelled at baseball, though was really shy. When Logan first experienced his first drink, he felt like it took away the insecurity. Alcohol became the solution to his social life. As his alcoholism exasperated, Logan lost his baseball and college scholarships.

Logan wrote his very first song during his stay at a treatment centre, and performed it for the first time in front of the other recovering addicts. His rock bottom moment was when he was sitting outside a pawn shop contemplating selling his last valued possession, his guitar. But he couldn’t do it. He got up, walked away and checked into a treatment centre the next day.

Logan is now 6 years clean and sober.
@loganbrucemusic

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Richard has always made good use of his entrepreneurial skills since his younger years. Together with his brother, they built a chain of successful car care centres that were later sold on to become Ultratune. Following 17 years of active addiction, Richard has stayed substance free from November 1985 He has gone through AA, NA and Al-anon. ‘First 90 days I did 210 meetings. Next 2 years, I did 2 meetings a day.’ 

Richard established the first Hader Clinic in 1997, branching out to Queensland and overseas, which is now known as the most respected private rehabilitation centres in Australia. 

http://www.richardsmith.com.au/

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

Darcy experienced bullying throughout school and struggled with self image. The only kids that didn’t judge him were the ones that were up to no good, so he hung out with the wrong crowd. As a young man, Darcy was doing coke everyday and eventually was selling to keep his habits. During his time in Lotus Glen Correctional Centre for drugs and assault charges, Darcy started to focus on fitness. It helped him keep up a structured routine, keep busy, fit, healthy and provided mental clarity. When he got out, Darcy kept thriving in the fitness industry. He is now an extremely passionate PT, transforming people’s life and mindset. Check him out on Instagram @drc.fit.pt

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Shane is a passionate motivational speaker and advocate for mental health, human rights and youth. Shane uses his lived experience to help people get through their life, with regular contributions to social innovation projects and volunteer in many causes and fundraising events. Shane also wrote a wide range of books, donating one hundred perfect of all proceeds to charity. 

Shane shares his past struggles in his early years, life as a drummer, the addiction, prison times and sexual abuse in prison.

Today Shane is completing a double law and psychological degree in order to focus on helping more people. Follow his journey at @shanecuthbertoffical 

http://www.shanecuthbert.com/ 
www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au
@thetruthabout_addiction

Anthony, together with his partner Eve, founded Awakened Lifestyles to help people find their sense of purpose, their inner peace and balance in life, in order to lead a happy and successful life. 

Anthony struggled through his teenage years with drugs addiction, and later on, obesity, while battling a constant feeling of ‘not enough’. Anthony has coached thousands of people in nutrition & mindset and now leads his own company, Awakened Lifestyles, to help High Achievers find mental peace and inner fulfilment without giving up external success.

Anthony now stands 14 years clean and sober, we hope that Anthony’s story can inspire some of you too.

@anthonyinnerwork
www.awakenedlifestyles.com.au 
www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Karen Casey, a best-selling author. Her first book, ‘Each Day A New Beginning’ sold over 4 million copies and is dedicated to helping women suffering with addictions.

At 13 years of age, Karen got a glass of whiskey and a coke, where she found the longing comfort that she couldn’t find within her family. 

Karen talked about her first marriage with another alcoholic, the ‘spiritual intervention’ when she was about to commit suicide, the turning point when she first walked into an Al Anons meeting. Karen is so funny, so honest and raw in her story telling. 

Now 46 years clean, Karen hasn’t stopped writing and hasn’t stopped helping others in their own recovery journey. 

Danny Shannon, Founder of Encapsulator, created the business as a mean for individuals to record and track their dreams, their hope, their progress through life, to emphasise self awareness and observe their own transformations. 

When Danny picked up heroin at 16 years of age, he never missed a day for the next 17 years. Danny is now 13 years clean. He has a great message about recovery, about not giving up, and the power of positivity. 

Daniel, Founder of Walkabout Warriors, has been proudly mentoring youth since 2017 using his own experience and passion in fitness and art therapy. Dan believes that art is emotional, and that emotions are not to be suppressed. He is teaching kids to deal with their emotions, understanding purpose to connect to themselves and their culture. 

Dan came from a background of childhood trauma, sexual abuse and drug uses. A proud man of Aboriginal heritage from the ‘Kamilaroi’ tribe and strong mental health advocate, Dan shares his story on his own inspirational healing journey. 

Check out Dan’s wonderful work at www.walkaboutwarriors.com