Coronavirus: Driven To Addiction

Former alcoholic renee begs Aussies not to hit the bottle to numb pandemic pain

- Keeley Henderson

As bottle shops enjoy a roaring trade, former alcoholic Renee Claire Hargreaves has a warning for stressedout Aussies: “This is not the time to be creating bad habits.”

At her lowest ebb, Renee was drinking two bottles of wine a night, abusing pain medication and she was also addicted to online shopping.

“Anything that would numb the pain,” the 32-year-old mum of two tells New Idea.

Renee says her problems stemmed from childhood trauma and sexual abuse, which caused her to feel worthless.

“I couldn’t look in the mirror without looking myself up and down. I disliked myself so much,” she admits.

With millions of Aussies facing unemployment, crippling debt, and being isolated from their loved ones, experts fear the pandemic could lead to a spike in alcohol consumption.

“Being in a confined environment, under stress and maybe having concerns around one’s future, financials, security or work – these are all factors that pose considerable risk for vulnerable people,” Professor Michael Farrell, director of the National Drugs and Alcohol Research Centre, told the ABC.

Renee adds: “In our society it is so normal to have a drink, but it is not a quick fix for the situation. In fact, it will do more harm than good.

“If we use it as a void filler because we are in fear, what happens when things settle?

“Facing my emotions was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but also the best.”