National Family Support Network 12.03.16

1. National Family Support Network 12.03.16

2. National Family Support Network • Support Work • Resource Development • Awareness Raising • Policy Work

3. Acknowledgments: Addiction and the Family International Network (AFINet) – UK Richard Velleman, Alex Copello, Jim Orford, Lorna Templeton, Akan Ibanga Plus Internationally:

4. Huge similarity Four highly contrasting geographical / cultural areas – UK, Italy, Mexico and Australia. People say extraordinarily similar things when they are trying to tell us about what it is like to live with someone who has an alcohol or drug problem, seemingly irrespective of where they come from. There are remarkably few significant differences between the populations on any of the quantitative measures: physical or psychological health, family environment, or on coping methods. There are some interesting differences between these groups, but the overwhelming picture these results present is one of comparability.

5. The Experience of Family Members • How difficult it is to live with someone (as a spouse, or as a parent or as a child) when that person misuses alcohol or drugs. • The various impacts that the drinker or drug user has on their lives. • How this has affected them as family members, who have to worry and often bear the brunt of any changes in the substance misuser. • How they often become anxious, or depressed, or how the worry seems to lead to effects on their physical health too. • How they cope or deal with these difficulties. From a careful examination of what they say about how they cope, it seems that there are 3 main ways that people cope with living with a drug or alcohol misuser. • And people across the world have also said that the amount and type of social support that they receive is an important influence on the well-being of the family member.

6. The Stress-Strain-Coping-Support (SSCS) model(Copello, Ibanga, Orford, Templeton, Velleman) Developed from what family members told the AFINet-UK group in various research studies: • Families experience stress as a result of someone else’s problem drinking or drug use; this has an impact on them. • The strain of dealing with the substance misuse leads to physical and psychological ill health. • The strain is influenced/mediated by: • Method(s) of coping • Level and quality of social support

7. The stress-strain-coping-support (SSCS) model(Copello, Ibanga, Orford, Templeton, Velleman) • Lots of other models can appear to blame the families, or to pathologise them. SSCS model does not. • In the SSCS model, family members are BOTH part of the solution, AND also have needs in their own right. • Family members are at the heart of the response. • Considers how harms to individuals and families can be reduced.

8. 5-Step Method Step 1: Listen, reassure and explore concerns Allow family member to describe situation Identify relevant stresses Identify need for further information Communicate realistic optimism Identify need for future contacts Step 2: Provide relevant, specific and targeted information Increase knowledge and understanding Reduce stress arising from lack of knowledge or misconceptions Step 3: Explore coping responses Identify current coping responses Explore advantages and disadvantages of current coping strategies Explore alternative coping responses Explore advantages and disadvantages of alternative ways of coping

9. 5-Step Method Step 4: Discuss Social Support Draw a social network diagram Aim to improve communication within the family Aim for a unified and coherent approach Explore potential new sources of support Step 5: Discuss and explore further needs Is there a need for further help? Discuss possible options with family member Facilitate contact between family member and other sources of specialist help

10. Research Evidence • For family members: • A positive and significant change in coping behaviour. • Reduction in symptoms (physical and psychological). • Links between coping and health. • Lessening of the impact of the problem. • Indirect impact on children and others in the family. • For practitioners: • Confidence in working with family members. • Awareness of the importance of working with family members.

11. Kinship Carers • Impact on carers • Informal carers, guardians & relative foster carers • Whose mammy now? (2005) • Supporting grandparents…supporting grandchildren (2005) • Submission to the National Drug Strategy (2009) • Committee (2011) • Research (2012 & 2015)

12. Bereavement • 1st Service of Commemoration & Hope • Drug Related Deaths Index • Overdose Prevention • Funeral Expenses • Bereavement Support Groups & Programmes • Naloxone Demonstration Project QAG

13. Intimidation • Research 2009 • National Drugs Strategy 2009 – 2016 • GNDU and NFSN Pilot Reporting Scheme • November 2012 • Other Community Initiatives

14. Young Person’s Support Programme • Loss of relationship with drug using relative • Defending drug using relative • Keeping secrets • Embarrassment, isolation, loneliness • Resentment • Increased responsibility Aim of the Young Person’s Support Programme • an opportunity to obtain peer support and education within a recreational context • an opportunity to learn how others handle situations commonly experienced by young people • learn more about the implications of their substance misusing relative's needs • Provides concerned family members and other professionals with opportunities to learn more about the concerns and issues frequently experienced by young people

15. Contact Details National Family Support Network, 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1 (01) 898 0148 info@fsn.ie www.fsn.ie