Holyoake's Family Approach

Alcohol, prescription drugs, heroin, amphetamines and marijuana represent a range of licit and illicit drugs that are used in our community. How do families respond when alcohol or other drug use becomes a problem? What can they do to help? How do they make sure their lives don't slip and slide with the ups and downs of the problem drug user? Holyoake has a major focus on assisting all family members to find their own answers to these and other thorny issues they face. 

Problems with alcohol or other drugs can be frustrating, puzzling, frightening and down right energy sapping. Families may feel like they are going mad with worry, especially with the high-risk behaviour that comes with some illicit drug use.  Secrets, lies, manipulation and broken promises are all part of the unfolding pattern.  

Being the partner, parent, child or even close friend of a problem drinker or drug user can be like living on a roller coaster. Personal relationships are put under huge pressure, with family stress levels and individuals ability to cope taxed, sometimes to breaking point. 

Partners, parents and other family members respond in the same ways as they would to any other serious problem that effected their loved one. They try to help, they try to adjust what they're doing, they try to figure out what's causing it, they ignore it hoping it will go away, they question, advise, keep silent, counsel, get angry, threaten and plead; often to no avail! Sometimes they just fall over exhausted. Holyoake has found, as do many family members, that these coping styles do not reduce the stress they are experiencing and furthermore that they do not lead to positive changes in the drinking or drug use, sometimes it gets worse. 

New research conducted at Holyoake has debunked the myth that you can't help the drinker or drug user until they admit a problem or seek help. 63% of resistant heavy drinkers and drug users either cut down, stopped or sought help due to their spouses or parents completing a program solely aimed at assisting the spouses (and parents) who attended. This in no way implies that the family member is responsible for the drinking/drug using or related behaviour, it mearly acknowledges the influence one family member has on another. 

Holyoake provides unique programs for families which recognise both their need to reduce the considerable emotional pain they are suffering but also provides the family with effective, strategic coping skills which have been found to (i) reduce the alcohol or drug users consumption (ii) encourage user's to seek help, and (iii) effectively support and encourage users who are in treatment. 

Families can be assisted to improve their quality of life even if the substance user continues to use and resists any change, however the “spin off” effect if the spouse, parent or other family member seeks help can lead to significant change for the drinker or drug user.

Contact Holyoake for more information.