Andrew Addie, a 38-year-old advocate living in Bondi Beach, has shared his path to an alcohol-free life spanning nearly six years, highlighting the critical role of supportive healthcare and the urgent need for improved services across Australia.

Growing up in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Andrew began drinking at just 12 or 13 years old, stealing alcohol from his parents’ cabinet. As a gay man in regional Australia, he experienced what many in the LGBTQ+ community face: higher rates of alcohol use normalised by societal expectations.

“I think a lot of people in the queer community experience higher rates of alcohol use,” Andrew explained. “It was kind of the way that society viewed it, that it was okay because I was the gay guy. I was the funny guy. I was the funny drunk.”

When Drinking Spiralled Out of Control

By his 30s, Andrew’s drinking had escalated beyond social occasions. He consumed alcohol daily and continued drinking alone after others had gone home. The shame and stigma surrounding alcohol problems delayed his decision to seek help.

“I didn’t know how it would be received with my friends and family, and that had a huge impact on delaying the time that I would seek help,” he said.

At 32, Andrew’s mental health reached its lowest point. A spark inside him recognised the need for change, leading him to find a supportive, queer-friendly doctor who transformed his path to life without alcohol.

“It changed my life, just having that little conversation with a doctor,” Andrew recalled. “He knew that I could get out of it and he supported me through it.”

Medical Detox and Building an Alcohol-Free Life

Andrew completed a medical detox process, marking the beginning of his journey. Now nearly six years alcohol-free, he celebrates each milestone as an achievement more significant than a birthday.

“When I have a milestone, I usually do something quite silly or ridiculous, such as running the City to Surf,” he said. “Usually I celebrate with close friends. It’s a real achievement that I’m so proud of.”

These milestones provide important check-ins for reflection. Andrew looks back at old Facebook posts that revolved around alcohol and contrasts them with his current active, fit lifestyle and improved mental health.

“I’m obviously haunted by my old posts on Facebook that all revolved around alcohol,” he said. “And then I think about the life that I lead now, which is active, it’s fit. My mental health is far better than it ever was.”

The Support Services Gap

Despite his successful alcohol-free life, Andrew emphasises the severe shortage of support services, particularly in regional and rural Australia.

“There’s simply not enough support services. As soon as you leave metro areas, but as soon as you step out of a metro area to a regional rural place, the supports are just almost non-existent,” he said. “That’s outrageous.”

He draws a stark comparison with physical health emergencies: “If you’ve got a broken leg, you would go to the hospital immediately and you would get care. But when people are reaching out to change their relationship with alcohol, they experience all these barriers: stigma, no service, healthcare professionals not coming on board with what they’re saying.”

Andrew advocates for government intervention and proper support services to help people change their relationship with alcohol. “It’s actually not rocket science,” he notes.

Ongoing Vigilance

Now working in alcohol advocacy and community participation for the LGBTQ+ community, Andrew acknowledges that sharing his story can make him feel vulnerable. He recognises what he calls “the alcohol brain” occasionally questioning what would happen if he had just one drink.

“There is kind of 10% of me that feels really vulnerable,” he admits. “But overall, I mean, I’m nearly six years in. I feel pretty bulletproof now, which is great.”

However, Andrew remains realistic about maintaining his alcohol-free life requiring ongoing focus. “You can’t get too comfortable. This is something that I’ll probably have to focus on for the rest of my life. And that’s okay.”

Building a Protective Life Without Alcohol

Andrew has built a life he loves, swimming in the ocean every day and maintaining routines that protect his wellbeing.

“I’ve got a fantastic life now. I love my life,” he said. “I’ve got all these things that I’ve built over the years that are really protective and are going to support me forever.”

His story, shared with the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) for their Voices of Change initiative, demonstrates both the challenges of addressing alcohol problems and the possibilities that emerge through proper support and sustained commitment to recovery.

For Andrew, each day represents not just abstinence, but a choice to embrace the active, fulfilling alcohol-free life he has created.

Source: Fare