A local alcoholic addict in recovery is making waves in the men’s mental health space.
RJ Menzies told The Echo he spent over ten years in the grips of alcohol and drug addiction.
‘First it was fun, then it was fun with consequences, then it was only consequences’, recalls RJ.
‘Addiction can be described as the gradual narrowing of things that bring you joy. As a young man growing up in Australia, binge drinking was very normalised.
Party drugs
‘Over time, recreational party drugs like methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) entered my life.
‘While the argument whether addiction is genetic or a circumstance of one’s environment rages on, the real issue for me was simply wanting to stop while being unable to.
‘All of the typical things that happen to a young man in addiction happened to me. Run-ins with the law, relationship breakdowns, financial instability, lack of purpose, and physical injury.
‘One day I was snow-boarding while on a bender, I tore the ACL ligament in my knee and headed straight to the operating table.
‘Six months later, I was arrested for high-range drink driving’.
RJ says he then went to rehab. ‘Although in my mind, I wasn’t an alcoholic’.
‘Denial is a key ingredient of addiction’.
At 28 years old, he said a life of complete abstinence from all mind-altering substances (including weed) seemed completely unattainable for him
‘Without a proper commitment to recovery, a relapse was inevitable’, he said.
Five years clean
He said, ‘Finally I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. So with the help of various recovery support groups, I managed to put it all behind me at age 29, which is now over five years ago’.
‘All the typical things that happen to a young man in recovery happened to me. At first it was tough. Eventually, I got my life back, my ambition, my will to live and my self respect. I forged a new career in the mental health industry. I have run a marathon. I got my licence back, and I bought a big shiny 4×4. These days I don’t even flinch when I see cops!
‘I have found my purpose in spreading the message of addiction to the addict who still suffers’.
RJ says he has presented recovery talks at hospitals, detox centres and even prisons.
Free counselling
He is offering a free addiction counselling session to anyone who thinks they may have this problem. Please reach out to him at [email protected].
‘I am currently making steps to open my own sober-living facility.
‘I’m determined to change the drinking culture for men in this country, including the stigma around addiction and recovery’, says RJ.
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