Jackie O was deep into a years-long addiction to pills and alcohol until one phone call changed her life.

There’s a reason Jackie O kept her addiction to pain medication and alcohol a secret for so long: shame. But now, she wants to share her story of recovery and healing with the world and to help other people get the help they need - and so she’s sharing the hard truths of the years she spent struggling.

Jackie and her best friend Gemma sit down for a searingly honest conversation with Mia Freedman about how Jackie found herself at her low point and finally had to admit her addiction to Gemma - and how Gemma got Jackie to rehab without the press finding out.

This is a story about addiction and recovery, but it’s also a story of the life-saving quality of friendship.

You can hear part two of Mia's conversation here. 

Jackie is donating the proceeds from the sale of her memoir to Odyssey House - you can learn more about them here.

You can find Jackie O’s memoir, The Whole Truth, here.

You can learn more about Besties - Jackie & Gemma’s project - here.

And if this episode triggered anything for you and you need someone to talk to, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

THE END BITS:

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CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer:  Thom Lion 

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures