Family support network tackles drug use stigma

THE SHAME and stigma felt by families of drug users were highlighted at a meeting of the Family Support Network in Dublin yesterday. The network supports groups of families affected by drug use in the home.

Brendan Doyle from Wexford told the meeting that he and his wife Hilda had spent the past 25 years struggling with their five children, who had all become addicted. “We live with the shame and stigma around drugs in our home,” he said.

He did not know there were support groups for families until his young son died six years ago. He was struggling to pay for the funeral when he found out about the Family Support Network. “For the first time in our lives, we found people at the meetings we could share our story with,” he said.

“With the support from the network and so many true friends we have made, life is good for us today. Our children are still in addiction but we have the support to take care of ourselves,” Mr Doyle said. “I have great peace in my life and can deal with anything today that happens because I know that there’s always somebody I can ring for support.”

One woman in the audience said if it wasn’t for the Family Support Network, she would be in prison or the cemetery. She said she had a barring order against two of her sons and her grandchildren were in care due to drugs.

Bernie Howard told how she helped to start the Crinan Family Support Group in Dublin’s north inner city after her son Stephen became addicted and took his own life in 1995.

The Family Support Network can be contacted at (01) 836 5168.