Public Address | Cafe | Speaker: The Uncomfortable Silence

dr tune

Thu, 29 Dec 2016 05:19:40 +1300

A friend of mine died almost two years ago to the day; same cause, complete surprise to all of us who knew him. It was a difficult thing to process; he had two bright, lovely early-teen kids who he loved spending time with... and suddenly he was dead, out of…

kiwiwolf

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 10:28:27 +1200

A brave article beautifully written, thank you for sharing.

John Holley

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:52:25 +1200

Thank you.

John McCormick

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:31:00 +1200

What a lovely piece. Both moving and thoughtful. Thank you.

andin

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:58:22 +1200

remedy to destigmatizing heroin overdose
As Amberleigh illustrates its not the person using and overusing with tragic consequences, that is the problem.
In this and many other areas its how everyone will view it thru their own personal mental focusing tool or brain (if you like). And some are completely…

some one

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:38:05 +1200

Amberleigh, thank you for what you've done here. It's very brave. I worked in the same industry and had the opportunity to meet your brother and hang out on a few occasions. You should know your brother was well loved by all and is remembered by how he lived and…

Prudence

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 10:05:47 +1200

"I think you might be underestimating the ease of treating both of these conditions, sorry."
Yes sorry is appropriate. The patronising "It's harder to treat than YOU think" is one of the brick walls we come across. It's too hard so we'll just do nothing.
I'm not likely to underestimate…

Russell Brown

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:22:06 +1200

I think you might be underestimating the ease of treating both of these conditions, sorry.

Very true. I think what Prudence was trying to say is that addiction could be more effectively treated if it was seen like any other heath problem.

LIISA

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 23:47:07 +1200

Wouldn't it be great if addiction was treated just as type 2 diabetes is.... Both so easily treated.
I think you might be underestimating the ease of treating both of these conditions, sorry.
Certainly each would be made easier if the stigma attached to them was less.

Rosemary McDonald

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 23:33:57 +1200

What I definitely do know is that grief never leaves

Give me a time machine.

Dial back forty three years and let me tell my father....don't.

Please, don't.

Prudence

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 23:16:39 +1200

Wouldn't it be great if addiction was treated just as type 2 diabetes is. Both diseases develop in adulthood (mostly). Both so easily treated.
Twenty years or so ago I read of a hospital somewhere in the UK where people dependent on heroin could pick up their required dose from…

Hilary Stace

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:08:19 +1200

Yes thank you for writing this, and sorry for your loss.

In the 1970s heroin (and other drug use) was pretty common. Not by me (I have often been the odd one out). Overdose was a constant risk and we often had to support various flatmates to keep them upright…

Kyle MacDonald

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:33:10 +1200

Thank you for writing this Amberleigh.

andin

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:18:03 +1200

What? Was I off on my own little tangent there?
Ya get that sometimes, sorry
And to Amberleigh

Lilith __

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 18:16:22 +1200

Amberleigh, if your brother was anything like you, he was amazing. Thank you for writing this.

I know a woman who used heroin for many years, and nobody knew. Her family knew something was the matter, but had no idea it was that. She only opened up after she got…

BenWilson

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 17:04:02 +1200

My brother lived a full and wonderful life for 35 years.

Nowhere long enough. Thank you for giving us this, Amberleigh.

andin

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 16:52:20 +1200

Until we remove heroin and overdose from the list of dirty words, the problem will never go away.

The problems never going to go away until WE get our noses out of peoples lives and minds, allow for individual differences and choices. But some unspoken adherence to a dead mindset…

Rob Stowell

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:40:14 +1200

Thanks for writing this. It’s sad and terrible. And then the painful silence.
Not the same, but I lost my brother to suicide/depression, and it’s also been hard to talk about – except with some remarkable people, who just who get it. 20 years ago this May, and I still…

Euan Mason

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:37:42 +1200

Great writing. Readers will all grieve with you.

Fiona Mckenzie

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:22:31 +1200

This is so good to read. Thank you.

bob daktari

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:18:43 +1200

Ask me how he lived though.

The question no one asks regardless of cause of death – my mum died of cancer... people would ask when she was dying if she smoked... she did... the look of sympathy would fade to be replaced by a look that was devoid of,…

David Herkt

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:16:32 +1200

Thanks for writing and sharing what I think of as an important piece. It is so truthful, and it gets to the heart of the matter that most of the people who die from a illicit drug overdose don't want to die... It is simply a matter of existing in…

Chopper

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:10:51 +1200

Thanks for sharing Amberleigh. I love this sentence: "Ask me how he lived though." So right.

Louise Hall

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 11:55:11 +1200

Thank you for writing and sharing this beautiful piece. I am so sorry your brother died. How awful for you all that he is no longer here.

Ross Bell

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 11:48:12 +1200

Thanks heaps for sharing, Amberleigh.

Public Address

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 11:48:12 +1200

Discussion from blog post.