Summary: This resource shares real stories of (addiction) by people with lived experience of substance use, family members, and people who have been involved in providing clinical care or peer support. These stories highlight the impact of substance dependence in peoples’ lives, as well as the importance of seeking help.

Check out stories about from:

• Liz
• Jacquelyn
• Tegan
• Conrad

Developers: Rethink Addiction, a coalition of organisations advocating for a change to Australia’s attitude and response to addiction

Year: 2021

Costs: Free

Evidence base: This resource has undergone expert review.

Summary: Lives of Substance is a website that provides personal stories of alcohol and other drug addiction, or habit. The website aims to support those who use drugs while also giving others such friends and family, health professionals and policy makers a greater insight into their experiences.

The stories featured on the site are drawn from in-depth qualitative interviews with 60 residents of Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. Stories are presented in the form of written extracts, original voice recordings and video re-enactments.

Developers: Lives of Substance is based on qualitative research conducted by researchers from Curtin University’s National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia, Monash University and the University of New South Wales Centre for Social Research in Health (CSRH).

Costs: Free

Year: 2016

Evidence base: This resource has been evaluated in one peer-reviewed publication (see below).

• Treloar, C., Pienaar, K., Dilkes-Frayne, E. and Fraser, S. (2017). Lives of Substance: A mixed-method evaluation of a public information website on addiction experiences. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. pp. 1-8. Journal article - a mixed-method evaluation of a public information website on addiction experiencesDOI:10.1080/09687637.2017.1397602 [RJ1370]