Family Helpline - Loving an Addict
My name is Jason Bowman and I am the Manager at Addiction Solutions Victoria. In response to direct feedback from a broad cross-section of people and families challenged by addiction, we have developed an affordable, evidence-based drug and alcohol rehab option delivered in the person's home where they feel safe and their privacy is protected.
To celebrate the possibility of recovery from drugs and alcohol, we have compiled a series of testimonials in the form of blogs written by people who have accessed ASV programs, we aim to share the hope of positive change with anyone still impacted in a negative manner by addiction.
For more information, please call Jason on 03 8374 7648
Loving an Addict
Loving an addict is hard work. There are all the things you hear about – the lying, being let down time and time again and the inevitable stealing but the worse thing of all is knowing that the drug comes first, no matter your history together, no matter the love you share, the drug will always come first.
Ice had become my boyfriend's mistress and by the time I realised what was going on, her hold on him was far more substantial and enduring than the love I thought we shared. The inevitable landslide was spectacular, joint bank accounts drained, his high-paying job gone, long-standing friendships in tatters and family in utter disbelief at the downfall of their son.
After Dean's first stint in rehab, I thought he was cured and we could resume our happy life pre-drugs, but that wasn't to be. Before long, he was lying to me, staying out late, sleeping in and telling me that it was all in my mind, that the problem was my paranoia – not his using.
In absolute desperation, I called Jason at ASV. I could see the train wreck ahead, the bodies on the track, and I needed help quickly before it was too late. I was powerless in the face of his hunger for drugs, but after talking to Jason the first time, I felt that maybe there was a chance he could help him.
Jason and the family helpline team at ASV worked fast, and Dean responded in a way he hadn't before. He took the rehab at-home program seriously, and for the first time, I saw hope in him that there could be a future without drugs. It's been a long road of healing and a lot has come out along the way but Dean is now drug-free and, for the most part, happy. After completing the rehab at-home program, he started attending 12-step meetings and has happily identified as a recovering addict.
I also realised that I needed help and started sessions with Angela, ASV's family therapist. She helped me deal with my anger towards Dean and the grief that came from the trauma from Dean's use. She taught me that Dean is a sick person, not a bad person, which has helped me to accept and move toward forgiveness.
Without ASV's expert and compassionate guidance, I hate to think where Dean would be right now. Still, I do know that our life together is changed, that drugs no longer dominate, and his recovery is now the most important thing to him alongside our life together. Life is so much brighter and I am excited about the future.
My experience of the Rehab at Home program - Dean
Addiction is a disease that can take over someone's life. It can be hard to break free from addiction, but it is possible. There are many resources available to help people struggling with addiction. Seek out help if you or someone you know is suffering. You can get through this. I could stop using, look at my issues, achieve significant positive change and recover.
If I can, anyone can.
For those afflicted with addiction, life can seem like a never-ending nightmare. They know that they need to make changes in their lives but the temptation is too much and they relapse time and time again. The shame of addiction is enough to force them into isolation, thus making it even harder for them to escape its grasp. Addiction can take over every aspect of someone's life-destroying relationships, careers and dreams.
But there is hope. With the help of family, friends and professionals, addicts can get their lives back on track and reclaim their dreams.
Thanks to the team at ASV, I now have a chance at a future that I have never dreamed could be possible.
Sincerely,
Dean
"ASV family helpline programs provide affordable, evidence-based drug and alcohol support options across Melbourne, Victoria. The core program is delivered in the person's home where they feel safe and their privacy is protected". - Jase Bowman - ASV AOD & Family Helpline Services, Melbourne 2020.
ASV staff provide programs that are delivered by experienced, qualified industry professionals.
For more information, call Jason on 03 8374 7648
Email jason@addictionsolutionsvictoria.org.au
addictionsolutionsvictoria.org.au - addictionsolutionsgeelong.org.au
To access additional information and support, visit the Collective Recovery Support Network.