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.

Growing up in Frankston Victoria in a ‘broken home’, Mark thought he was the poison that ruined the good things in life. He didn’t know how to talk about it as a kid, so started to look for things outside of himself to change the way he felt. Mark found it in crime. As Mark got older, he couldn’t stop looking for the feel-goods. It progressed with alcohol, drugs, violence, women etc… 

Mark stayed clean since his very first meeting in Narcotics Anonymous in 2008. He is now 14 years in recovery.

Mikaela grew up in Melbourne in an area where ‘it was common to start drinking at an early age’.  As a 12 year old, Mikaela experienced uncontrollable drinking and mostly struggled in school. She was frustrated, angry, lost and unmanageable. She barely finished year 9.

Mikaela first went to rehab at the age of 17 and was in and out of Narcotics Anonymous the last 10 years, though never worked the program during that time. She even lost her job as a nurse for using while at work. Now at 10 months clean, Mikaela dreams of being able to help people in addiction recovery and mental health. 

Donna started using as a young child, and for a very long time she thought it was normal from a social aspect. In her late teenage years, Donna started to notice that her using was getting heavy, she was always the last to leave, the one to always turn up with drugs and never wanted it to end. 

There were many breakdowns in her relationships with others and she felt her self esteem was slipping away. Donna got married, though sadly used throughout her pregnancy, and during the first 9 years of her son’s life. She attended various facilities to get clean, but it never lasted long.

Donna is now 4 years clean. Her son is also proudly 2 years clean. Listen to Donna tell her story as a mother and an ex-addict.

Glen grew up in Melbourne in a ‘fairly’ normal family environment. He was introduced to drugs as early as 12 years old, then he started using heroin and was in and out of prison over the next 10 years. 

In 2004, Glen ended up in rehab, but he was lost without support and a program to work on. Within a couple of months, he was back in the habit and back to jail. While he was in jail, Glen’s sister began her recovery journey and became clean; she used to come and ‘carried the message’ during her visits. Glen witnessed what his sister had after getting clean; she was healthy and happy, and he wanted what she had. That was ‘the beginning of the end’ for him. 

Glen is now 9 and a half years clean.