New project to help families of drug users is launched by police

Officers ‘signpost’ people in Perth and Kinross to services which could help

Police have rolled out an initiative to help families of drug users in Perth and Kinross.

Officers have been working alongside the charitable organisation, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD), to encourage those who have difficulties in giving up their drug habit to seek relevant advice.

Inspector Suzanne Smith, of the partnership, intervention and prevention team, stressed the importance of the work that has been taking place recently in the area.

She said officers are trying to “signpost” people towards services which may help drug users in Perth and Kinross.

“We particularly want to help families who have been impacted by the substance misuse,” she said.

“These services can offer a wide variety of tools and information that can help families.”

Ms Smith stressed drug abuse has a wide-ranging impact.

“It doesn’t only affect individuals, it has a wider ripple effect.

“There is a framework involved as part of this programme of help. It teaches people about coping mechanisms, on decision-making, helping people make approaches to those who are substance abusers and it helps them to manage better within the family environment.”

She continued: “It’s quite a new relationship for us as there is already help from other drugs services in Tayside but there’s lots and lots of information online.

“I would encourage any family member who is affected by the impact of substance misuse to go out and look at that support as it’s really useful.”

Ms Smith states substance misuse can “quite quickly” become an addiction and outlines how this is difficult to understand for many people.

She said: “I think it’s very easy for people to say if drug users stopped taking drugs they wouldn’t steal or shoplift.

“It’s difficult to understand the situation particularly concerning people who often have chaotic lifestyles – they don’t have much structure to their lives.

“They are influenced by the drugs they take so they can become quite detached and their drugs can make them less emotive, so there are lots of different things that affect the substance user, but this programme allows families to understand that better to then allow them to work better as a family.

“This would involve getting that person to seek help to maybe moderate their drug use because abstinence is unfortunately not an option for everyone, and recovery isn’t an option for everyone.”

It teaches people about coping mechanisms, on decisionmaking, helping people make approaches to those who are substance abusers and it helps them to manage better within the family environment