Family Support
For Loved Ones Of Those Suffering From Substance Abuse
At the Gold Coast Addiction & Treatment Rehab (www.goldcoastaddictionandtreatmentrehab.com), we explain that people are not desert islands living in isolation from other human beings.
In fact, we strongly believe that addictions begin and end in relationships. It’s through unhealthy relationships that we are damaged and it’s through healthy relationships that we are healed…! Johann Hari explains in his book, ‘Chasing the Scream’ that addictions are a substitute for love and that human beings are longing for human connection. If we don’t develop loving meaningful relationships, we will turn to addictions as cheap substitutes.
This 5 minute video explains it well:
Family Systems Approach
This means that families are systems, in relationship with each other so healing relationships that have fallen apart with family and friends are a vital part of recovery. At the Gold Coast Addiction & Treatment Rehab (www.goldcoastaddictionandtreatmentrehab.com) we invite loved ones to get involved in the recovery of the person seeking treatment so that the family system changes at the same time as the person receiving treatment.
We have seen many people completing treatment, only to find the same patterns and behaviours in place within their family systems…; just as they left them before they went into rehab. Going back into a broken family system where distrust and hurt is still just as strong as the day a person entered rehab, will place enormous risk of relapse on the person leaving rehab and coming back into this environment.
When a person contacts us for treatment, we send them and their loved ones resources to start the process of recovery together as a team and invite everyone to work towards the same goal. Sustainable Recovery!!!
Feel welcome to forward these resources onto your friends and family if they are wanting help with a loved one using drugs….
Private Recovery & Healing Retreat for substance abuse is available at
Gold Coast Addiction & Treatment Rehab
Click image to visit website
Family Support Group for Methamphetamine (ICE).
Offering resources and support by phone and online by appointment. Face to face groups meeting in some locations & online by appointment.
Numbers Are Strictly Limited. To book and secure your place please call 1800 NO TO ICE (1800 66 86 423) or (+61) 0481 844 555
For all emergencies please call 000 in Australia or the emergency number in your country.
For family help with alcohol and other drugs in Australia call;
Family Drug Support Line (National) 1300 368 186
24 hour ADIS (Alcohol & Drug Info Service) for drug users and loved ones
- Australian Capital Territory – (02) 6207 9977
- New South Wales – 1800 422 599 (Regional and rural NSW Freecall), (02) 9361 8000 (Metropolitan)
- Northern Territory – 1800 131 350
- Queensland – 1800 177 833 (Freecall)
- South Australia – 1300 13 1340
- Tasmania – 1800 250 015 (Freecall)
- Victoria 1800 888 236 – (DirectLine)
- Western Australia – 1800 198 024 (Regional), (08) 9442 5000 (Metropolitan)
For locations outside Australia, please call the Alcohol & Drug Information Service in your country
Resources
Part 1 – Free resources
Thank you for contacting us for help with your loved one using alcohol or other drugs. Below are some resources to help you, along with the diagrams that you can download for free.
Brief Intervention & Family Support Resources
Feel welcome to call our family support number +61481 844 555 regarding methamphetamine (ICE) issues and we can connect you with either our brief intervention worker or family support service. For all other alcohol and other drugs, call the numbers listed above.
Please find attached 7 resources that you can download for free and use for both drug users as well as their loved ones. Whilst the resources are listed for SE QLD, the Alcohol & Drug Info in your state can provide relevant up to date services in any location so you can change the ‘Resource list’ & ‘Action Plan’ (that are Word documents) and can be updated to your own geographical location.
For people that have done our 12 hr live or online Dual Diagnosis Training or our online 2 hour brief intervention program called ‘Chemically Speaking Two’ (www.dualdiagnosistraining.com.au), you will be familiar with these diagrams and how to use them.
The first step is to ask the drug user and/or family member to watch the free 42 min. ‘Chemically Speaking’ video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgpofcn5ZHA) which is also listed on the Resource list & Action Plan that will provide insight into the addiction cycle and the stages of change and how we can respond.
- Needs & Emotions diagram (download pdf) – helps them both to understand the underlying issues that need to be addressed that’s driving addictive behaviour.
- Cycle of Addiction (download pdf) – explains how we progress from experimentation, to social/recreational use, to harmful dependency, then to addiction.
- Stages of Change (download pdf) – explains how we move from precontemplation, to contemplation, to decision, to action, then to maintenance.
- Costs vs Benefits (download pdf) – for drug user to fill in with the loved one doing the brief intervention.
- Recommended Reading (download pdf) – further reading and tools to equip family members and people in recovery to grow.
- Resource list (download pdf) – explains resources to support loved ones move forward. Good for drug users to read as well.
- Action Plan (download pdf) – explains resources for drug users to move forward.
If people would like further information and training, they can participate in ‘Chemically Speaking Two’ listed below in part 2.
The diagrams will help both the drug user and loved ones on a journey of insight along with the free Chemically Speaking video on YouTube, so you don’t need to be a counsellor to use these resources.
Part 2 (Online)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions ‘Chemically Speaking Two’ (Brief Intervention 2 hr training) is now available online.
This course costs $75 (ex GST) on the learning platform, however people may receive a 40% discount from us by using our token below to purchase the course for only $45 (ex GST) for a limited time by clicking the link below and choose “Buy Now”.
To register and pay for the ONLINE training, please visit our contact page and choose “Chemically Speaking Two” $45 (ex GST) from drop down menu.
This program is an introduction and an ideal platform for the comprehensive 2 day Dual Diagnosis (12 hour) advanced S.A.M.H.I. (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Intervention) Training designed for front line workers that was released in June 2018.
‘Chemically Speaking Two’ is the 2017 upgrade to the original Chemically Speaking produced in 1999 and now provides training in:
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis)
- Integrative Holistic Model
- Needs & Underlying Issues that drive addictions
- Grief Cycle & Anger
- Drink & Drug Driving
- Cycle of Addiction
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Cannabis
- Stimulants (Speed, Ice, Ecstasy, Cocaine)
- Optimal Health
- Stages of Change
- Costs vs Benefits – doing a brief intervention.
- Tripod of Support for the drug user to help them move forward & stay safe.
This program will help you develop the skills to deliver brief and early interventions to people struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. This is part of our wider Community Development Response to ICE & Other Drugs as explained on our website;
www.dualdiagnosistraining.com.au/community-development/
This program will also help you to learn how to run family support groups. We run weekly live family support groups, as well as a weekly online family support group that you can join.
Part 3 – Family Therapy Specialist (Ian Waugh)
Counselling, After Care and Family Support
Ian Waugh at Bridging the Barriers offers confidential counselling, family support and after care services guiding couples, families, and individuals towards a life free of addiction. Through his lived experience, Ian understands the complex nature of addiction and its impact on families and intimate relationships.
As an addiction recovery specialist, Ian works closely with families and couples educating and supporting them through the complexities of living with addiction and the treatment phase. Once the treatment phase is completed Ian assists families in developing personalised after care and family support plans.
Family Support provided by Bridging the Barriers offers a continuum of care, beginning with pre-treatment education, support and interventions. This is followed up with treatment options, education and support; then moving into post – treatment planning and after care support and coaching. Our continuum of care is evidenced based, incorporating the latest best practice principals.
After Care provided by Bridging the Barriers specialises in post – treatment planning and care that includes comprehensive relapse management and recovery coaching. Once the treatment phase is complete, it is time for a well-planned aftercare program. Ian liaises closely with Gold Coast Addiction & Treatment Rehab team to optimise the best possible outcome and success.
Whether you are searching for advice, education, family support, after care or recovery coaching. Ian is here to help!
