Addiction is a lifestyle choice.

People don't choose addiction. While the first use of a substance or behaviour may be a choice for some, the pattern of addictive behaviour is rooted within a complex combination of trauma, life experiences and social circumstances.

Behind addiction is often fear, shame, trauma and a desperate attempt to cope.

Seeing the person, not just the addiction, is one of the most powerful ways we can challenge stigma and support recovery.

 Only certain people struggle with addiction.

Addiction doesn't discriminate. People from any social background, profession, income and community can be in active addiction. This might include having a painful relationship with substances, food, work, gambling, and/or exercise. 

There is no one typical form of addiction and no single factor determines who develops an addiction. 

 People in addiction are lazy and selfish and don't want to change.

Addiction can lead people to behave in ways they later deeply regret. But those behaviours are not the whole story of who someone is.

What can sometimes look like selfishness is often someone trying to survive while living with a condition that affects their thinking, emotions and behaviour.

Many people living with addiction are working, caring for families or simply doing everything they can to survive incredibly difficult circumstances.

Recovery takes commitment, courage and hard work.

 Once an "addict", always an "addict".

While everyone's journey is different, addiction does not have to define someone's identity forever. 

Recovery is possible, people are capable of making changes, and a meaningful, fulfilling life exists beyond addiction. This process is an incredibly difficult one, which requires time, care, and the opportunity to learn from and through life experiences. 

When people are given the right support, they can and do thrive. 

 There's only one 'right' way to recover from addiction

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. What works for one person may not work for another.

Recovery can involve therapy, peer support, residential treatment, medication, mutual aid groups, education, family support or a combination of approaches. The most effective recovery is the one that meets the individual's needs and strengths.

That's why our approach is so important, as it helps people make sense of their own experiences, find their own meaning and purpose, and take steps to rebuild and reclaim their lives.