 Family Drug Help has been operating in Victoria since 2000. We are funded by the Victorian State Government as part of the alcohol and drug treatment strategy.
We are a peer based service. Everybody who works for Family Drug Help has experience within their own family or close network of the affects of someone addicted to alcohol or drugs.
We are a program of the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (www.sharc.org.au) and you can download our annual reports from this site (look under publications).
Family Drug Help’s aims are to:
recognise that support and information can provide ongoing help and hope to concerned families and friends.
empower families and friends to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm to themselves and the person using alcohol or other drugs through a process of mutual support and self-help.
reduce the isolation and stigma often associated with a family members misuse of alcohol or other drugs by bringing families in contact with others who share these experiences.
provide non-judgemental, empathic support, as well as accurate information on alcohol and other drugs and current available treatment options.
About 5 years ago Lucy Pizzaro approached us concerned that their was no support for Spanish speaking families faced with alcohol and drug problems.
Lucy proposed a Spanish speaking Helpline, simular to the English line that we run.
We supported the idea, Lucy gathered a team of dedicated Spanish speaking volunteers, and the Spanish line was born.
The Line has virtually always operated without funding. The only grant directly for the line was a $5000 grant from the State Government.
The volunteers have been through an extensive training program in preparation for working on the line, and Lucy has completed alcohol and drug studies.
The line now operates Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm. They have their own room and phone line within Family Drug Help.
We are applying to the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Ageing to the Non Government Organisation Treatment Grant for funding for the Spanish Line. Applications close this Friday.
We are proposing that the line become a National Service, available to Spanish speaking families across Australia, continuing to operate 2 days a week from 9 am to 9 pm.
Please feel free to ring me if you need further information on 03 95731706/0404858725. Family Drug Help’s web address is below
|
