Families play an
important part in
recovery communities,
say Adfam, who were
at the conference
to develop
support networks.
David Ader explains
A
t Adfam we have a huge
amount of respect for the
achievements of the recovery
movement, which has done so
much to make the voices of people
with experience of drug and alcohol
problems heard, and their
achievements recognised.
The energy, enthusiasm and engage-
ment generated by the likes of FAVOR
UK’s recovery walk, the UK Recovery
Federation, Red Rose Recovery – and
many, many more – has shown us all
how focusing on strengths, hope and
togetherness can be extraordinarily
effective in challenging stigma, discrim-
ination and negativity. Nowhere is this
better illustrated than at the annual
DDN
service user involvement conference,
where the passion and commitment on
display is visible and contagious.
For us, the next step must be to
build on these achievements, by making
sure that families don’t get left behind.
Drugs and alcohol can be just as much
of a struggle for family members as for
their loved ones who use them, and
family members who’ve moved on to a
more positive place being able to
celebrate that progression, or stand up
and say ‘I’m in recovery too!’ is
immensely important.
While families are of course delighted
to see their loved ones embarking on a
recovery journey, it can sometimes feel
hard to be involved, with many feeling
left behind. There are many family
support groups and meetings around
the country for families to get together
and talk about the issues they’re facing –
and the support they provide is abso-
lutely crucial. But for family members
affected by a loved one’s drug or alcohol
use, there isn’t yet a comparable
positive community movement with a
sense of shared, national endeavour to
get involved in.
That’s why Adfam will be working
over the next few months with a range
of partners, including Alistair Sinclair of
the UK Recovery Federation, to work out
new approaches to involve family
members in recovery communities and
movements, and make sure their voices
are heard in the national dialogue. We
will build on the innovative work of
Katrina Taylor of Red Rose Recovery, the
Lancashire User Forum and others, to
look at best practice for recovery groups
to integrate carers and family members,
and how to involve them in the group’s
activities and encourage both those
with substance use problems and their
families to recover together.
If you’d like to get involved with
this work, please get in touch by
emailing
.
David Ader is policy and
communications officer at Adfam
March 2016 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 15
Read the reports, see the pictures:
A FAMILY AFFAIR TOO
T
his year Emily, marketing
officer, and Stuart, service user
involvement manager, were
supported by the service user
council, who worked hard all day
making sure everyone was hydrated
and chatting to people while they
made their tasty drinks.
‘We all had a great day making
mocktails at the
DDN
conference,
said Emily. ‘It was an even bigger
success than last year and we made
three great flavours – Tropical
Punch, Phoenix Fruitures and Berry
Madness – all packed with tasty
fruit juices and fresh fruit. Mocktails
are a great way for people to get
one of their five-a-day as they are
packed full of vitamins and
minerals.
‘I had a great day making
mocktails for people – it was a
brilliant way to get chatting and tell
everyone all about Phoenix,’ added
Stuart. ‘People really enjoyed their
mocktails – I think the favourite was
the Tropical Punch. It was great that
people kept coming back for more.’
Packing a Punch
For the second year in a row Phoenix Futures spent the
DDN
conference whipping up mocktails for delegates.
Bristol’s
Rising
Voices
brought
music and
motivation
to the
event
In fine voice
C
oming into the exhibition hall for refreshment breaks, delegates were
welcomed by a rousing chorus from Rising Voices, a weekly Bristol-based
singing group for people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, and
those who work or volunteer in treatment services.
‘Since forming in November 2014, we have created a unique and
transformative space for people to come together to sing, make positive
connections with others, feel better, make friends and to be uplifted by the
power of song,’ says choir member Sophie.
‘We have sung at community events all over Bristol, including the Bristol
Recovery Festival in September 2015, the Rolls Royce Christmas carol service,
and our own Bristol Drugs Project Christmas celebrations. We have between
15 and 20 regular members, and learn songs from all around the world by ear.’
Our thanks to Sophie, Nell, Rhea, Mandy, Alex, Jane, Michael, Martin, Pam,
Nathan and Pat, and choir leader Issi Freeth-Hale.
