Anyone who uses alcohol or other drugs can develop dependence.
Alcohol and drug problems don't target any particular group.
People end up in difficulty for a wide range of reasons. Sometimes a background of abuse or disadvantage has taken its toll. Stress associated with a major traumatic event can precipitate a cycle of dependence. Being raised in a home where one or both parents are dependent on alcohol or other drugs can also be a causal factor.
But it is also true that many people with alcohol and other drug issues come from backgrounds of advantage, with supportive loving families and plenty of opportunity. There may be no history of drug or alcohol dependence in their family.
Just as there is no one reason for alcohol or drug dependence, there is no one cure.
Dependence is not caused by moral failing of lack of will power. Nor is it a simple thing to overcome. But it can be overcome and even seemingly hopeless situations can be completely turned around.
Often, by the time people seek help with their alcohol or drug problem, they have many other issues to face. Alcohol and other drugs can seem to be a solution to problems but the sad fact is they have caused many more problems than they ever solved.
The following snapshots offer a view of what life has been like and what changed for people who have been through Windana services.
These people come from many different circumstances. Some have managed their substance dependence while continuing to hold down a job, raise children and be active members of their community. Others have lost home, family, friends, dignity and, finally, hope.
The one thing they have in common is that alcohol and other drugs are causing problems in their lives. Some want to stop completely. Others want to cut down and explore other issues.
Windana will walk with them... whatever path they choose... illuminating choices... Encouraging change and growth...
There was nothing I could pin my addiction on. I'm from a nice family, comfortable home, had a good education, nice friends, everything was okay. There was no-one to blame. Drugs and me just turned out to be a really bad combination. I'm one of those people who gets into it and can't get out. By the end of it I had a lot to learn about dealing with life without taking something to avoid it.
My family have been there for me and so have my friends and people at Windana.
Early on I felt so guilty for what I had put everyone through. But I have also learnt that I have to forgive myself.
It happened, I've learnt from it and now I have moved past that. Each day of being clean and sober makes amends for the past. The people who love me don't want me feeling guilty they want me feeling well and happy.
-Liz
Being an addict isn't something I had on my list of things to do in life... travel, fall in love, buy a house, get addicted, lose everything... Who would choose that? But I am not trapped in it anymore. Each day I get to choose not to drink or use and the really amazing thing about it is that I don't actually feel like being out of it anymore. I've learnt to be in reality – sometimes it's not so great, sometimes it sucks but I can get through it.
-Eddie
The things that really matter to me today, that I really value are probably things most people take for granted.
Waking up in a clean bed, with clean sheets... knowing where I am and who I am with... eating breakfast... being where I say I am going to be... having friends ask me to take care of their kids...
The differences between then and now show up in millions of little ways every day.
-Jenna
This is how much my thinking has changed: I used to wonder how I could get through without drugs. Now I know I won't get through if I use. And I want to get through. I want to live. It's a simple equation in my head now – drugs equal death. Even knowing that was not enough to keep me clean though. I had to get well – in my head and in my heart and in my body. I had to get connected, let other people in, learn to trust.
-Mick
It all seems crazy now. Why would I choose to live like that? But it was like I had been sucked down into this dark pit where I couldn't see any option. When you can't see your options you may as well not have any and you act accordingly. Recovery has shown me that I have options. The most important one is the option not to use. Everything in my life flows from that.
-John
One of the things I have found out about myself was that I was a rebel without a cause. But I thought I had cause. What I really had was a big ego, no self esteem. The turning point for me was taking a piece of advice one day. It worked, so I did it again the next day. For someone like me that was major. But I was desperate enough, sick and tired of the way my life kept turning out...
Doing what was suggested has been good for me – my own ideas had gotten me into a bad place. Doing what other people said would work helped me learn to see things differently, do things differently, and now I ask for advice when I need it. There's still a big part of me that wants to do my thing all the time and sometimes I follow that. The other thing is I learned that you can make a mistake and that's okay too – just don't pick up a drug.
-Mardy
All through my life I have been fighting – against parents, against teachers, against other kids, against anything... There was no rest and no happiness either.
Living this way has made me realise I can be me without the constant struggle. These days I take care of what's my business and I mind my own business about the rest. Well, most of the time!
-Laura
The drink the drugs the fixes the pills – they looked like the answer. When I finally put them all down, I realised how much of the problem they really were.
-Nick
It used to be that I would wake up in dread the next day after going out with friends. “What did I do last night? Will they still talk to me? Why am I like this?”
The other night I went out with a few old friends. They made me the designated driver – because now I am the responsible one - I don't drink or do drugs!
We had a really good time. It makes me feel so good to walk out of a party where I didn't make a total arse of myself and drive home safely. It feels good to brush my teeth, sleep well and get up with no feelings of humiliation or fear.
-Mel
Being eighteen and already in trouble with drugs is really hard 'cos most people are doing drugs or drinking at my age. But I already know that I probably will never be able to do that stuff and be okay. Probably I will have to accept that no matter what happens, I will be that guy who shouldn't drink, like my dad, like most of my family.
At this age it is tough but I have also found out that not everyone does drugs and not everyone drinks. That surprised me. What is even more surprising is that just because people don't drink or drug doesn't mean they're losers. Actually I've met kids my age who don't use that are a lot cooler than the ones that do. My old group of friends, some of them were the biggest losers ever after a few cones or they'd get sick from drinking. That's not a good way to live. Luckily for me as well I have an uncle who stopped drinking years ago, got sober, he's really cool. It helps to have people you can kind of use as role models otherwise you can think that everyone just gets wasted and that's not true.
-Luke
My life changed totally. But then really it didn't. What actually changed was my attitude. That's what made the difference – it made everything change when I started looking at things differently.
-Nicole
It's not about will power or being a good person. Lots of really good people get stuck in drug using or drinking. Lots of them have will power like you wouldn't believe. It's not simple to explain and it's not easy to stop. But it is possible to stop.
Windana's about giving people hope that they can change. When I got here I was a hopeless case but they believed in me. They knew I was a good person who'd gone off in the wrong direction and didn't know how to get back.
-Sally