Maree MacLean is an author and publisher who has helped countless people with her guides to sobriety. Her first book, The No Bullshit Guide to Getting Sober, became an Audible bestseller in 2023.
Maree lost her brother Stu to alcoholism at 37 - he died in her arms at Auckland Hospital. Her own drinking started in her twenties, masked by media work and weekend partying. When she went freelance and her income became unstable, the problem became impossible to hide.
She drank through a 10-year marriage in Copenhagen. After Stu's death, she came home to New Zealand and spiralled. One morning, ready to end her life, she drove to the marae instead. A psychologist named Joseph saw her walk in and knew.
Maree speaks with brutal honesty and candid humour about addiction, recovery, and why helping others has kept her sober.
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If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/
