our stories

114 Pages·2014·5.96 MB·English

OUR STORIES
The impact of alcohol on
individuals and families from
some of New Zealand’s less
often heard community voices
Giving voice to Consumers,
New Migrants, Refugees,
the Physically Disabled,
and Rainbow Communities
living in Auckland
102 • Our Stories
Copyright
The copyright owner of this publication is This document is available at
the Health Promotion Agency (HPA). HPA www.hpa.org.nz and www.alcohol.org.nz
permits the reproduction of material from
Any enquiries about this report should be
this publication without prior notification,
directed to HPA at the following address:
provided that fair representation is made
of the material and HPA is acknowledged Health Promotion Agency
as the source. Level 4, ASB House
101 The Terrace
Disclaimer PO Box 2142
Wellington 6140
This resource is a compilation of personal
Email: [email protected]
stories that has been developed by HPA’s
Community Insight Group. The views
expressed are those of the authors and are
not to be attributed to HPA.
Citation: Community Insight Group (2014).
Our stories: The impact of alcohol on
individuals and families from some of
New Zealand’s less often heard community
voices. Wellington: Health Promotion Agency.
All rights reserved.
Our Stories • 1
Our Stories
Foreword Chapter Three – CNSST
Chinese New Settlers Services Trust
Acknowledgements .............................................3
The Community Insight Group...........................3 Introduction from the Community Insight
A Word from Interviewer Peter Thorburn .......5 Group Representative. .......................................49
Kelvin......................................................................52
Introduction
Bill Guan and Allen Zhang .................................57
The Power of Stories ............................................8
Chapter Four – GLBTI
Alcohol Use and Harm among Diverse
Communities ..........................................................9 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender,
Intersex
Chapter One – Ethnic Voices
Introduction from the Community Insight
Ethnic Voice New Zealand Incorporated
Group Representative. .......................................61
Introduction from the Community Insight
Adam......................................................................63
Group Representative. .......................................12
Robyn. ....................................................................70
Taruna. ...................................................................14
Tilou. .......................................................................74
Shanti. ....................................................................18
Anna .......................................................................79
Marshai. .................................................................21
Grace......................................................................81
Dipanjan ................................................................23
Harold and Vasintha ...........................................24 Chapter Five – Disability Community
People with Intellectual, Physical and
Chapter Two – RASNZ
Sensory Impairments
Refugees as Survivors New Zealand
Introduction from the Community Insight
Introduction from the Community Insight
Group Representative. .......................................86
Group Representatives ......................................28
Grace Lee. .............................................................89
Leicester ...............................................................31
Lavinia Lovo. .........................................................90
Farah ......................................................................35
Jacqui.....................................................................94
Priscilla Dawson...................................................39
Joshua Fuimaono. ...............................................96
Yohan Michael. .....................................................42
Maioro Barton ...................................................100
Racine ....................................................................45
2 • Our Stories
Conclusion
Key Themes. ......................................................101
Potential Implications for Policy
and Practice ......................................................103
References
Bibliography ......................................................107
Directory
Further Help and Information .......................109
(-^) Back to contents page Our Stories • 3
Foreword
Acknowledgements The Community Insight Group
The Community Insight Group and the The Community Insight Group was formed
Health Promotion Agency (HPA) would by HPA in 2011 to:
like to especially acknowledge and thank • provide HPA with advice on alcohol-
those individuals who participated in the specific and other health promotion
development of this resource. It takes matters
great courage to tell your story and without
• look at ways to build the capacity of
it there would be no resource.
our communities to influence alcohol
He mihi tino aroha atu ki a koutou katoa mo and other health promotion policy
ō koutou tautoko mo ō kōrero ngākau hoki. and practice.
We would also like to acknowledge the We speak on and reflect the diverse realities
work and extra effort that ABACUS of the communities we live within. We do
Counselling, Training & Supervision Ltd put not claim to speak on behalf of all migrants,
into developing this resource. refugees, people with disabilities, or gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender or consumer
Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou mo ō koutou
groups. We provide merely an insight into
mahi pai.
some of the issues facing these communities
through our own personal experience and/or
our work within these communities.
4 • Our Stories
1
2 4 6 8 9 10
3 5 7
1. Jenny Wang 6. Dr Arif Saeid
Chinese New Settlers Services Trust Refugees as Survivors NZ
2. Shirley Anne Brown 7. Renata Kotua
Ministry of Social Development – Disability Community
E Tu Whānau (Co-facilitator) 8. Mariska Mannes
3. Fahima Saeid Ethnic Voice NZ
Refugees as Survivors NZ 9. Paul Luker
4. Diana Rands (Resource Designer & is not part of the
Rainbow Community Group)
5. Kristen Maynard 10. Peter Thorburn
Health Promotion Agency (Co-facilitator) Consumers
(-^) Back to contents page Our Stories • 5
A Word from Interviewer As someone who grew up in New Zealand,
Peter Thorburn with alcohol being a big part of my life, I have
personally seen the good and not-so-good
ABACUS Counselling, results of alcohol consumption, as most
Training & Supervision of us have. I have a list of convictions over
Ltd was the project a 20-year period, which can almost all be
facilitator for Our attributed to alcohol and drug use. For me,
Stories and it was my alcohol and drugs were a way to cope with
task to interview the a raft of underlying issues including mental
various community health, family challenges, grief and loss,
members who bullying, self-esteem and self-confidence
agreed to participate issues – alongside an environment in which
in the project. alcohol and drugs were prevalent.
First, I would like to express my deepest People who struggle with mental health and
gratitude to all the people that shared a part of drug and alcohol issues are often seen as
their life with me and for allowing these stories weak and fragile, with a lack of self-control.
to be shared with others. It was an honour and They are subject to demoralising stereotypes
a privilege to be welcomed into each of these – they are ‘immoral’, ‘criminals’ and ‘junkies’,
communities and to be given some insight into for example. My belief is that these are
the richness and complexities of life that each people trying to cope with the complexities
faces. Secondly, I would like to say thank you to of life. All of us have ways of coping – some
each Community Insight Group representative healthier than others.
for giving me access to your community and
For many of those who use alcohol and
trusting me to respect the relationship you
other drugs problematically, there is, more
have with each individual. Thirdly, I would like
often than not, a set of complex co-existing
to thank the Health Promotion Agency for
problems that lead to use, such as mental
allowing this resource to be developed and
and/or physical health challenges, stress, grief,
for letting the process happen organically.
loss, trauma, family break-ups, poverty, social
When we started this journey no one could be
isolation, and so on. Alcohol in New Zealand is
sure what the outcome would be. The Health
seen for many as an easy way to de-escalate,
Promotion Agency, in collaboration with the
manage social stressors, and forget life’s
Community Insight Group, had faith that a
problems. It is also seen as a way to celebrate
powerful resource would be developed and I
life’s milestones and is almost expected at
believe that’s what has been done.
6 • Our Stories
events like 18th or 21st birthdays. Many other assumptions or generalisations based solely
social gatherings, like weddings, funerals and on a person’s ethno-cultural background,
others, will include alcohol too. Right or wrong, or their religious beliefs. There is an array of
alcohol is a big part of New Zealand’s culture. other cultural nuances that contribute to the
For many of those who come to New Zealand, makeup of each person.
there appears to be an expectation to
Each story, as well as giving some insight
consume alcohol. Themes that come through
into how alcohol impacts on different
from many of those interviewed include
communities, speaks of resilience and
freedom (to explore New Zealand’s alcohol
hope and illustrates the unique way each
accepting culture), accessibility (alcohol’s
individual dealt with adversity. It was a
universal availability in New Zealand), and
humbling experience as the interviewer to
alcohol being cheap. A variety of other themes
have the privilege to attend with no agenda
include expectation (conforming to New
– to just sit and listen to these profoundly
Zealand customs), abating social isolation
personal stories. These interviewees let me
(new immigrants, etc) and fitting in (by
in, gave themselves openly and willingly for
adopting New Zealand behaviours).
the greater good, in order to help others
For those who have grown up in New Zealand, understand how we can best support their
most have been exposed to alcohol all community to develop resilience in spite of
of their lives. As a country, we spend $85 problematic alcohol and other drug use.
million per week on alcohol and, for those
This resource is unique. It gives readers
who are struggling with major life stressors
information and insight into communities
such as discrimination, stigma, dogma,
that they would not get from a text book or
trauma, abuse, violence, and mental health
lecture. It has the potential to inform policy,
challenges, alcohol is a cheap, accessible and
be used as an educational tool in universities
acceptable way of coping. During the process
or schools, as an engagement tool for
of interviewing this wonderfully diverse
practitioners, as an inspiration for those
group of individuals, it became apparent that,
struggling with problematic alcohol use, and
although there are common themes in the
to help break down stereotypes.
narrative around alcohol, each person had
their own relationship with alcohol. Each story However it is used, it also stands alone, not
was unique to the individual. As a practitioner, only as a fascinating insight into people’s
understanding the idiosyncratic nature of lives, but also as a collection of ‘windows’
this relationship gives insight into cultural risk into some of New Zealand’s less often heard
and resilience. It shows that we can’t make community voices.
Our Stories • 7
Peter Thorburn spent 23 years
Community Insight Group
struggling with a poly drug addiction
Representative
(methamphetamine, cannabis, alcohol).
Peter Thorburn, [email protected]
After getting out of jail in 2005, he went
back to school and has since gone on to Counties Manukau AOD (Alcohol and
become a qualified clinician specialising in Other Drug) Consumer Network
youth, alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and
Peer Support Group meets 10.30am
co-existing mental health problems – with
to 12.00pm every Monday and 1.00pm
a passion for working with young New
to 3.00pm every Friday at Nathan
Zealanders. He is a strong consumer/
Homestead, 70 Hill Rd, Manurewa.
service user advocate, and helped to
establish Counties Manukau Alcohol and Network information can be found at
Other Drug Consumer Network and AOD their web address and they can be
peer support in Counties Manukau. contacted by email.
He has worked for ABACUS Counselling, Email: info@alcoholdrugconsumer
Training & Supervision Ltd since 2007 network.org.nz
and in that time has had the pleasure of
www.alcoholdrugconsumernetwork.
participating in a diverse range of work,
org.nz
alongside some of the most experienced
addiction and mental health specialists
in Aotearoa. His role as a consumer
representative, counsellor and trainer
has had him work with New Zealand
Police, Child, Youth and Family, Youthline,
Odyssey House, the Salvation Army and
HPA, to name a few.
Continued education (evidence-based
information), telling his recovery story,
and maintaining a strong link to the
consumer community are what grounds
him in his work. He says that helping a
person find recovery is his new addiction.
8 • Our Stories (-^) Back to contents page
Introduction
The Power of Stories
“Their story, yours and mine – it’s what we all carry with us on this trip we
take, and we owe it to each other to respect our stories and learn from them.”
William Carlos Williams
There is potency and power in stories. We see this powerful combination of stories
According to Janet Litherland, “They delight, as being a useful resource to help raise
enchant, touch, teach, recall, inspire, motivate, awareness within our communities about the
challenge. They help us to understand” impact of alcohol and ways of shifting this.
(as cited in Christensen, 2014). We also see this collective storybook as a
resource to help educate the general public
Mathew Fox also implies that stories are
on the specific issues and impacts alcohol
knowledge passed through the heart,
has on diverse New Zealand communities
imparting wisdom through the direct
and to inform policy and practice.
experience of the storyteller themselves
(Christensen, 2014). We begin with some brief background
information on alcohol use and harm among
It is the power of stories that inspired us (the
diverse communities in New Zealand.
Health Promotion Agency’s (HPA) Community
We then turn to the stories themselves,
Insight Group) to develop this resource.
which have been grouped into specific
It brings together personal stories about
community chapters. Each community
alcohol use and harm from the perspectives of
chapter starts with a brief introduction
our communities – refugees, recent migrants,
about the challenges facing that community.
international students, people with disabilities,
We conclude by highlighting some of the key
the lesbian/gay/transgender community,
themes emerging from these stories and
and those who have experienced alcohol
discussing some of the potential implications
addiction. Their stories speak about resilience
for policy and practice.
and having the courage to change, as well
as the unique impact alcohol has had on the
individual, their whānau and community.