Tipperary community event hears about support services for addicts and their families
The Suir Valley Community Based Drugs Initiative, South East Regional Family Support Network and South Eastern Drug & Alcohol Taskforce outlined the help they provide to people suffering from addiction and their families at the Stay Connected community workshop.
Gail Sheridan is a Community Drugs Worker with the Suir Valley CBDI located at Carrick-on-Suir Youth and Community Centre at 56 New Street.The service is often the first point of contact for people suffering from an addiction when they go seeking a treatment pathway. Gail supports them to get into a treatment programme.Gail works one-to-one with individuals and with small groups of people of all ages who have drugs and alcohol addictions and supports people around relapse prevention, such as when social events are coming up.
The service also runs a family support group for those who have a loved one struggling with addiction and a community arts programme for people recovering from addiction.
“You don’t need to wait until a huge crisis, just reach out sooner and open up that conversation and just make the link before the big crisis,” she advised.
“If you do find yourself in crisis, absolutely reach out and get in touch, and we will find solutions together.
“There are always choices when you feel there is no choices. You are not on your own, and my door is always open,” she told the workshop.
Suir Valley CBDI can be contacted at (051) 645775, (087) 9827669 or email: suirvalleycbdi@wstcys.ie
