Policy Commitment Needed for Addiction Recovery Support Services

We have invited leaders in the healthcare field to share their experiences and knowledge with us through a regular series of guest posts on Australian Hospital and Healthcare Bulletin via our website. Today we have Claire Barber, General Manager at South Pacific Private, here to talk about addiction recovery support in Australia.

“Recovery introduced me to myself. The hardest but most rewarding journey I have ever undertaken.”

 Among the important dialogue about the problem addiction poses to society, a critical piece of the puzzle is being overlooked and needs to be acknowledged in order to re-dress the balance of this problem. That dialogue is about recovery.

Until recently, there was relatively little evidence that could clearly indicate the benefits of recovery financially, physically, relationally or mentally.

The Australian Life in Recovery Survey conducted by Turning Point and South Pacific Private is the first survey of its kind that has evidenced these benefits. It has confirmed many things anecdotally assumed about the crippling effects of addiction and the transformative impact of recovery from addiction.

The survey looked at the major areas of life and wellbeing including finance, family and social life, health, legal issues and work. The figures showed the severity that substance addiction has not just on an individual, but also on the community.

For example, the data showed those in recovery were:

• 75% less likely to drive while under the influence


• 40% more likely to get involved in a community or civic group


• 25% more likely to pay taxes


• 53% less likely to miss school or work

It is clear policy makers need to recognise the key role recovery programs play in the initiation and sustainability of recovery journeys and how this benefits the wider society.

In addition to its findings, the survey gives several clear recommendations regarding implications that need to be addressed at a federal, state and local level to ensure that the achievement of recovery is extended across families, communities and professional settings (such as health and legal systems).

The following policy recommendations are suggested:

Policy makers should acknowledge and recognise in drug and alcohol commissioning the key role that recovery organisations play in the initiation and sustaining of recovery journeys that benefit wider society and challenge stereotypes and stigma around addiction.

Greater policy and funding commitment to recovery support services to ensure that those who initiate recovery journeys are supported to maximise their own wellbeing and their

contributions to family and community.

That greater funding is provided for alumni and aftercare organisations to enable the informal community support that is essential to build recovery capital and recovery communities.

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition, yet people can and do recover. They can change and that change is not only personal but social and societal. The researchers from the Life in Recovery Survey hope that the outcomes of this survey are widely distributed and used to contribute to the policy debate about recovery in Australia.

Read South Pacific Private's report in full.

About South Pacific Private:
South Pacific Private is Australia’s leading mental health and addiction treatment facility offering inpatient and day programs to treat anxiety disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, behavioural addictions, alcohol addiction and substance abuse. Treatment at South Pacific Private offers the best possibility of recovery through its multidisciplinary, tailored programs which are designed to meet the individual needs of clients.