It’s not about which program is better. It’s about which program works better for you.
Ron Isherwood – Founder & Program Director
Ron Isherwood founded The Truth About Addiction in 2020. With over 42 years of experience working with recovering addicts across various rehabilitation settings, Ron identified a major gap in the understanding and treatment of addiction. Drawing on his own journey through addiction and recovery, Ron developed a unique program built on lived experience, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of transformation.
Founder & Program Director
He went on to implement a successful drug rehabilitation program inside Berallon Correctional Centre, working closely with the prison director. This initiative saw many participants break free from the cycle of addiction and build better lives post-release. His program and methodology have since been passed on to a team of passionate and dedicated counsellors who continue the work he started.
Ron’s background is profoundly unconventional. Raised in a family associated with the Painters and Dockers in Melbourne, his early life was marked by violence, aggression, and abuse. At just 17, during his incarceration, Ron became a victim of institutional abuse, an experience he carried silently for over 50 years.
Today, Ron is not only a leading voice in addiction recovery, but also a proud and vocal advocate for survivors of institutional abuse. Through his work with Beyond Lighthouse, he now helps other survivors seek justice and healing, offering the same support and courage that helped him reclaim his voice. His mission is clear: to ensure no one walks the path to recovery or justice alone.
Here is a recommendation letter from Guy Baulf who was the Director at Borallon Correctional Centre. Guy was the core of the drugs unit and particularly passionate about helping prisoners obtaining a substance free lifestyle, enabling them to fit the criteria for their release.
(Attachment of Guy’s letter)
Mark Adams
Mark is a proud father, grandfather, and a living testament to the power of long-term recovery. Clean from drugs and alcohol for over 14 years, his journey has been one of resilience, redemption, and purpose.
Raised on Brisbane’s southside, Mark’s battle with addiction began early experimenting with substances at age 12 and escalating to daily use by 14. Over the next 26 years, his life became entangled with methamphetamine, heroin, alcohol, cannabis, prescription pills, and the criminal consequences that followed.
By 24, Mark had entered his first rehabilitation facility. Multiple attempts followed, including a year-long program in 2003, but sobriety remained elusive.
Substance dependency eventually led to incarceration in his late 20s, and by 2011, he had lost his freedom, family, and the will to go on.
At rock bottom, Mark experienced a moment of clarity: a vision of his daughters that sparked a profound shift.
The next day, he asked for help. At 40 years old, he entered rehab for the third time and this time, it changed everything. He has remained clean ever since.
For the past nine years, Mark has worked at the Hader Clinic, helping over 3,000 individuals navigate the path to recovery. Combining his lived experience with clinical understanding, he is a compassionate mentor, trusted advisor, and respected figure in the recovery community. He remains actively involved in Narcotics Anonymous and is known for his grounded, empathetic approach.
Now based on the Sunshine Coast, Mark lives with his daughters and his beloved Staffy, Gypsy. When he’s not supporting others, you’ll find him riding motorbikes or strength training, living life fully and intentionally.
Mark’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery is real and that it’s never too late to rewrite your life.