More support is needed for families of addicts

When a person is struggling with addiction, there is often no awareness of the effect they are having on their families. As a family member of an addict, your feelings and the impact they are having on your life can be completely ignored. At Port of Call, we understand the strain of having an addict as a family member and are ready to offer help for families of addicts. It is important to know that it is not your fault and that you cannot stop their addiction alone. Talk to us for non-judgemental, honest advice today on 0800 002 9010.

Support groups for families of addicts

We need to understand the pressure of having an addict as a child, sibling or parent and what that does to the rest of the family.  As part of the recovery process, Port of Call feels that both the person struggling with addiction and their families need to be looked after. That is why we encourage families to reach out to us for advice, guidance and most of all support.

Talk to one of our trained advisors, confidentially, about what you are struggling with. We can give you guidance on the next step to take, whether that is how to deal with your family member, or how to find support groups for families of addicts. Are you looking for support for families of alcoholics? Or maybe for drug addiction? Whatever your circumstance, we can tailor our advice to help you. 

To the families of addicts

Firstly, it is not your fault. Your child, sibling or parent got themselves into this situation and, along with your support, need to get themselves out of it. At Port of Call, we understand the emotional, physical and even financial strain you may have been under as a result of a loved one’s addiction. Because of this, it is important that you not only look after them, but take time to look after yourself. We want to help families of addicts as well as the person struggling with addiction.

Below we have developed 5 steps to helping a family member struggling with addiction.

1.  Don’t be an enabler – If you are financing their addiction in any way, it’s time to stop. If you are making excuses for them, or covering up their addiction, you’re not facing it. It’s time to stop.
2.  Reach out to someone for advice – You are in a very difficult position and will need help figuring out your next step. This could be talking to a friend, reaching out to us at Port of Call or joining a support group for families of addicts. Talking to someone who is empathetic or in the same situation as you can make all the difference in how you cope with your family member’s addiction.
3. Step back – If your attempts at helping them have been completely exhausted, take a step back and maybe consider an intervention. Having a third-party professional becoming the middle ground can often make a huge difference. This could help your loved one realise what they are doing to both themselves and their family.
4. Don’t take them on – If they become emotionally or physically abusive, don’t rise to the bait. Step away from the situation and look after yourself. You can continue the conversation when they have sobered up. We understand you want to help, but putting yourself in a destructive environment won’t help either of you.
5. Always be ready to be supportive – This may sound like an obvious thing to do, however letting your family member know you are ready and willing to talk could be the next step towards them tackling their addiction. Don’t give up on them, recovery is always a possibility.

Find support for families of addicts

If you feel at a loss, or need some advice from someone outside of the situation, Port of Call is ready to help. Our experience in situations similar to your own ensures our advice is personal, effective and straight to the point. We provide the support for families of alcoholics and drug addicts, that is so often overlooked.

Another option for you could be support groups, where you can find specific help for families of addicts. Surrounding yourself with people in a similar situation creates a support system for you, with people who understand exactly what you are feeling. A support group could help you to deal with the emotional toll that you are experiencing.

For example, Nar-Anon and Families Anonymous are groups specifically for people affected by someone else’s addiction. They would involve you in support groups for families of addicts, a safe space, where you can confide in the people around you, where there is no judgement and everyone is there to listen to your struggles.

Who needs help?

Find more information on our family pages to gain some general advice for situations like yours. Who suffers with addiction?

• Parents
• Children
• Spouse

For more advice tailored to your specific information, talk to one of our team today.

Contact us

We understand that you may feel selfish considering your own feelings ahead of your addicted loved one. However, it is vital you look after yourself. Only you in a healthy state of mind, with a team of support behind you, can fully help your family member with their addiction.

We urge you not to suffer in silence, or succumb to the loneliness that comes hand in hand with addiction. Reach out for help, we are more than happy to listen.

For more information on how Port of Call can help the families of addicts, talk to our team today on 0800 002 9010.

About the author: Martin Preston

Martin is our Founder and Chief Executive. Martin is himself in long term recovery and started Port of Call to help families navigate treatment options. In 2020 Martin will open Delamere Health Ltd, the UK’s first purpose built addiction treatment clinic.