Australian Drug Foundation statistical data confirms the most effective method of supporting an individual through substance abuse recovery, is via family support of a loved one. The difficulty arises when there are not services available to educate family on how to best support a loved one through addiction and into recovery. During Peninsula Voice’s large scale public forum, ‘What’s the Real story with Ice’ it was identified there were currently no services available in either Frankston or Mornington. The result of this lack of service, means our community families often struggle through this stigma laden issue, completely alone.
During our public forum, local mother of 3 children, Kerrie Knight gave a sobering account of her daughter India’s five year struggle with an Ice addiction. Having overdosed five times this person story was an incredibly powerful message that substance abuse does not discriminate, is not based on education, socio economic position or status. This heartfelt account reverberated around the room, when Kerrie stated if it can happen to me it can happen to you. Kerrie stated community is the key elements to help deliver, education, and early intervention and harm minimization
Based on this local support need, Peninsula Voice (PV) in conjunction with not for profit, non-government agency Family Drug Support (FDS) PV set up an addiction education sessions series, designed to provide support for families on how to help a family member through substance abuse.
These sessions aimed to de-stigmatise addiction, reduce feelings of isolation for family members and provide them with the coping tools and support need to reconnect with drug affected family members.
Session 1: What is going on, stages of change, getting life in balance and self care
Session 2: Various drug types, how they work and how they affect people
Session 3: What works, what doesn’t, setting workable boundaries, de-escalating situations
Thank you to our Event Partners for the evening
