What should I do?

Adfam Conference 2012

Where do I get the help I need?

For those living close to a dependent drug/alcohol user, trying to find help can be frustrating. It often seems that support is geared towards the user, when families struggle through problems too. Adfam believes that families need and deserve support in their own right. You may find the following helpful:

• A local support service. There aren’t enough support services especially for families, but the number is growing. See our find a family support group page to see what’s available in your area.
• Sometimes families just want someone to talk to, and there are helplines for this. Some local services also operate their own telephone support services.
• Different people need different services, and no two families are the same. If you have other needs relating to domestic violence or relationship support, if your family member is in prison or if you have been bereaved by drug use, see how other useful organisations can help.
• If you don’t feel ready to talk to somebody about your problems yet, you can start by getting information on different drugs and what you might be going through. We operate a drugs factfile and our publications are free for family members.
• Whilst Adfam’s speciality is support for families in their own right, many people’s first reaction is to try and find help on behalf of their loved one. You can look up a directory of treatment services if you want to research the support available for your family member from the NTA's directory of residential rehabs, DrugScope's helpfinder or the treatment database of Talk to Frank.