We offer confidential support and guidance to reduce the impact of addiction on family members and friends. We know that addiction can affect the whole family, not just the user, and it can be hard to know what to do for the best.
Anyone living in Blackburn with Darwen who is concerned about someone who is using drugs and alcohol or struggling with an addiction
Whether you think someone is struggling with an addiction and you want to discuss this with someone.
or
Whether you know someone is struggling with an addiction and want to find out how to support them without enabling them
We can help!
We offer:
- 1-1 support with our specialist Addiction Carers Advisor
- Information about addictions and their impact
- Information about recovery options
- Opportunities to relax and de-stress
- Group support
- Counselling
Who can you help?
We help anyone who is concerned about someone else’s addiction. You could be a partner, parent, friend, neighbour… whoever you are, this part of the service is for you.
Even if you rarely see the person who has an addiction then we still welcome you. You don’t have to be actively ‘caring’ for that person to use this part of the service.
How do I know if my family member has an addiction?
If you have noticed something about a family member and want to discuss the things that you find suspicious, get in touch. We can discuss signs and symptoms and help you to work out what to do next.
I’m not the one who needs the help, so why do I need your service?
Although you are not the one who has an addiction, there a still a number of ways we can help you.
We can give harm reduction information so that you know what to do to help your loved one if their behaviour is risky.
If your loved one is in treatment, we often hear stories where families unwittingly ‘undo’ the work that addiction services are trying to achieve. They do not do this intentionally, but it can be helpful for families to learn how to support someone through treatment and recovery.
Sometimes it just helps to be able to talk to someone who is impartial and can offer the chance for you to get your feelings off your chest. We know that family members take different stances on how to respond to the user and this can be really difficult for everyone. We can help you negotiate your way through this.
Is everything I say confidential?
We are non-judgmental and we hear lots of things that family members are worried about sharing. We will keep your information confidential, unless you tell us that there is harm or a risk of harm to you or someone else.
We provide a safe space to talk and can make a referral to our in-house counselling service if this is what you would like.
How do I know if my loved one is addicted? They say they can control their use or stop.
There are different stages of addiction. Whether it’s a person experimenting, families still worry about their loved one. This service can help you no matter what stage your loved one is at and help you work out strategies that can help you and the person who has an addiction.
