What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 22, 2024
What's New August 9, 2021
Triple M’s Chris ‘Pagey’ Page admits alcohol addiction
Triple M Sydney Breakfast anchor Chris ‘Pagey’ Page has revealed his extended leave over the past month has been due to alcohol addiction.
Host Lawrence ‘Moonman’ Mooney admitted the show had been using euphemisms around Page’s absence – including “extended leave” and “having a bit of a break” – but said it was time to be honest with the Triple M family.
Page also implored more high-profile people to be honest about their demons.
“It really bothers me, particularly anyone in the media, or anyone in the public eye, you often read about someone taking extended leave for exhaustion. That’s crap. If someone says they’re taking leave for exhaustion, they’re in rehab,” he said.
“And there’s a real, there’s a stigma around rehab. And if people can’t be open about it, then no one’s going to talk about it, and that stigma just grows.”
Page said he’d known for some time his drinking was out of control – “the little man inside you knows” – but he’d been trying to silence the realisation.
The tipping point came when he realised alcohol was going to kill him.
Rehab, he said, was the circuit breaker he needed.
He thanked Triple M for its unwavering support during his time of need.
“I’m in a really luck position, working somewhere like Triple M, when I made the phone call and I said ‘This is what I’ve got to do’, and it’s not a small thing to take basically a month off a Breakfast show like this. But everyone at Triple M immediately supported me,” he said.
Alcohol & Drug Foundation: 1300 858 584
Alcohol. Think Again: 1800 198 024
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): 1300 222 222
Lifeline: 13 11 14
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 22, 2024
This was amazing radio and really well said. Must have taken lots of guts to say it onair. Lots of talk on this page about what makes good radio, well this is it! Always found Pagey really funny but now even more impressed with him. Good on you mate!
I’ve always considered Pagey the best in the business. This was such powerful and brave radio.
So impressive
I have to commend pagey for this, I think alot of us hide away from our issues with drugs and alcohol for fear of embarrassment and being shamed.
Well done!!!!
Beautifully said Pagey. Proud of you for sharing your own struggles to help others realise it’s ok to not be ok and get help help. Brave stuff. Be well mate.
Commercial radio forces its presenters to be honest about their life, but this was still really brave. Moonman In The Morning lost its sparkle for the last month and I’ve missed ‘Alan Jones’ coming in for a rant.
I worked with Pagey at the M’s years ago, and he’s always been a class act. Well done for speaking out and encouraging others to do the same.
Amazing and so courageous to voice and share this. Well done Pagey – there is absolutely no shame in rehab, it’s you taking that first step to actually wanting to get better. Hopefully your honestly will encourage others.
Such brave and inspiring radio this morning. Pagey should be applauded for being so honest and open.
He is one of the funniest and most talented people in the country and it’s so great to have him back on the wireless.
There is so much brain dead chatter on FM radio but Chris Page knows how to talk from the heart and this really connects with the audience
Have a look at New Zealand and Mediaworks. They recently released an independent review into workplace culture. The Terms of Reference for the review covered allegations relating to sexual or racial harassment, discrimination, bullying or misuse of drugs and alcohol and covered the three-year period between March 2018 and March 2021. Australian media could learn a thing or two from this. Read it here >> https://www.mediaworks.co.nz/home/about/WorkplaceReview.html
Kudos to you Pagey for finding the courage to talk about your addiction.
Love you Pagey!
Chris you are such a wonderful guy. I admire your bravery. Talking about it is so powerful. I hope you are in a better place. I am out in Broken Hill and talk On Air about Domestic Violence and my story. We know the power of therapy stay well. Benjamin Starr
A member of my family has done a couple of stints in a facility, and someone once suggested we tell others he is “recovering from surgery” because how embarrassing that he’s seeking mental health treatment.
Thank you for normalising this Pagey, it’s overdue
Couldn’t be prouder to be your colleague and friend Pagey.
Maybe best to look after yourself after 4 weeks in rehab and keep doing the work on yourself before doing a Mooney ! Rehab is no a monthly cure as you would know, good luck and remember put yourself first .