Families across Louth receive ongoing support from FASN during the Christmas period

The month of December is often a period of festive cheer for most, but it can also be a very testing and vulnerable time for those with an addiction issue or in recovery.

The stress, anxiety, and worry of having a loved one who has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, drugs or any addictive behavior often can have very negative and difficult consequences for family members. 

Those who are affected by the impact of someone else’s addictive behaviour often feel confused, frustrated, isolated, hopeless, angry, and completely exhausted. And they themselves are in need of access to ongoing support services in order to deal with the ongoing stress and strain addiction places on the family. 

The Family Addiction Support Network’s volunteers – a group of men and women across the North East - who are all ‘experts by experience’ and professionally educated and trained – will continue to provide family members and loved ones with emergency cover and access to support during the post-Christmas and New Year period. 

During the holiday period in Ireland, alcohol & other drug use consumption tends to rise. For family members already tip-toeing around addiction, Christmas & New Year can be a pressure cooker moment. For loved ones who are living with the ongoing damaging consequences of addiction - getting advice and support is essential.

“Our message is - don’t try to cope alone.” says Gwen McKenna, FASN Family Support Specialist

“If you are feeling worried, frightened, or overwhelmed – reach out to FASN – our helpline remains open all over the post-Christmas period and into the New Year “

“All our volunteers are professionally trained & educated however they are also experts by experience. Our stories may be different – however, we ourselves have all gone through or continue to live with the fact our loved ones experience substance misuse and addiction issues. 

We understand the pressure & pain family members are experiencing and we can help them access ongoing support for themselves that will make a difference in their lives. In essence, we help family members learn to cope – and in coping, take back control of their own lives and health and well being” Gwen added. 

The Family Addiction Support Network will be providing emergency cover across the four counties of Louth, Meath, Monaghan & Cavan.

Volunteers will be on call to 

•  Answer an ‘out of hours’ helpline supporting family members in stress and seeking help
   
• Meet with a family member who needs emotional support or simply a listening ear without feeling judged
   
• Support family members through the terror of dealing with drug debt intimidation and threats of violence
   
• Provide information and options to help find ways of coping whilst taking care of their own health & wellbeing.
   

FASN volunteers are also working hard in preparation of their annual fundraiser – a 5k & Family Fun Run fundraiser which will take place on New Year’s Day. 

In an effort to address a shortfall in funding & maintain our services, the FASN 5K is part of our ongoing fundraising campaign and 100% of the monies raised will fund our services into 2023. 

To register for the event visit www.fasn.ie or the FASN Facebook page for further details. A Facebook competition is currently running to promote the event with great prizes to be won. 

When: 12 noon, 1st of January 2023

Where: Race Route: Start at Pedestrian Walkway beside Friary School, Friary Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth 

The Family Addiction Support Network would like to thank all our volunteers for their work and acknowledge their magnificent contribution in helping to build caring, safer and resilient communities.

The FASN Helpline Number is: 0879046405

Visit the fasn.ie website for more information