Supporting a child or family member who is trying to manage with drug or alcohol addiction can be the most exhausting, frustrating, confusing and terrifying experience of your life. Our parent and guardian family support group can provide a lifeline for families in despair.
People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol can be very manipulative and are mainly focused, often to the exclusion of everyone else, on getting their next drink or fix. Their mind and body craves drugs or alcohol and it is extremely difficult – and sometimes dangerous – for them not to feed their addiction.
Many parents and guardians we meet through the course of our work, feel isolated, ashamed, afraid, angry and emotionally and physically drained. Worrying, every second of the day and night, about what your child is doing, who they are with, if they are using drugs again, takes its toll on the family.
Substance addiction affects all those who are in contact with, or have a relationship with, the user. This effect is sometimes described like a drop of water dripping in a pool, the consequences of the person’s addiction spread out from the centre like rings, touching everyone and everything in their life.If you can relate to any of the emotions and feelings described above, take heart that you are not alone and that there is support for you too.