By KATH GANNAWAY
STEVE has lost a lot through chronic alcohol addiction; his health, good friends, and the support of his family.
On Tuesday 22 October, he will be one of the guest speakers at a Drug & Alcohol Forum in Millgrove.
He says he hopes that by sharing his story, he can save others from going through what he has been through, and what he has to live with.
The turning point came four years ago when a magistrate ordered him to see a psychologist.
“I wouldn’t have ever considered getting help; talking to anyone,” he says touching on the reason behind the forum which is being run by local drug and alcohol service providers.
The aim is to help local families affected by alcohol and/or drug addiction, in any way, to develop strategies to deal with that addiction.
Steve was 25 when he started drinking heavily resulting in 15 lost years which saw him in trouble with police, ruined relationships and chronic liver and other illnesses which have left him unable to work.
“I have my ill-health, and I only have myself to blame,” he says as he meets in the lead up to the forum with Anglicare’s Jenny Syme and Katrin Oliver from SURE (Substance Use Recovery Eastern) two of the group involved.
In a frank interview Steve says “I have had to admit to a lot of things; it made me aggressive, I ended up with convictions that effected my whole life.” Pausing to regain his composure he talks about the effect his addiction has had on his family.
“My mother had never been in court before,” he says fighting back tears.
“Parents ask themselves ‘is it my fault?’. My parents went to Alanon; in the end they moved.
“Parents need to know, and be supported to know that they are not alone, that there are others having problems too,” he says.
His contact with Anglicare at Yarra Junction came when he was at a very low point.
“I ended up at there because I had no money for food,” he says. “To have to ask for help, as a man who has always worked; going on a disability pension because I was so ill, that was humiliating for me.
“I have a house and I’ve always worked, and worked hard, but I can’t do that now and I would just like to save people from going through that,” he says.
“You can’t see it when you’re in it, but if you’re abusing alcohol you’re distorting your mind and you remain at that level of maturity. I was a 40-year-old man behaving like a child because I had stunted my maturity.
“I haven’t had a drink for four years, and coming out the other end, I have a different perspective on life.”
Part of the new perspective is warning young people of the pitfalls of alcohol addiction, what’s at stake in the short and the long-term.
It’s also about getting help.
“I hope it can make a difference.”
The Drug & Alcohol Forum is at Millgrove Community Centre in Millgrove from 7.30pm to 9.15pm. Phone Ms. Syme on 5967 1769 or Anne Iversen on 9573 1777 for further information.
