Dublin 15 Family Support Service

Dublin 15 Family Support offers a safe space where family members can become empowered and develop a strengths-based approach while coping with drug or alcohol use in the family. We develop and maintain a health-led, harm reduction approach while working with families affected by substance misuse as per vision and goals outlines in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery (2017‑2025).

The effects of substance use on families are difficult and can be very diverse. It can cause a great deal of stress on individuals and the family unit. Family members often forget about their own needs – their physical, mental and well-being. Your time and energy can often be focused on the person close to you who is using alcohol or drugs. Over time the stress, strains and feelings loss of control can contribute to problems for families and even difficulties in coping with the situation. As a family member or carer you may need support in your own right. If you would like further support please contact Mary Morris, Family Support Coordinator, on 086 8058785 or mary@bldtf.ie or Maxine Lacey on 087 7091838 maxine@bldtf.ie or Laura Curtis on 087 9574215 or laura@bldtf.ie or call the office on 01‑824 9590.

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Expectations and the benefits

The service offers one to one support for you to explore your own needs, encouraging positive self-care and well-being. The service implements evidence-based models to support you to gain the skills to cope and understand of the effects substance misuse has on the whole family. D15 Family Support facilitates you to address the negative dynamic of drug and alcohol use within the family. It supports family members to look after their own needs and where identified, support their loved one to make constructive choices for the future. 

One to one support

A safe and non-judgemental space where you are listened to and supported. The family support worker will assist you to explore and identify your needs using a strengths-based approach. You will have access to relevant information on drugs, alcohol, and the effects substance misuse has on individuals and the family.

Alcohol supports

D15 Family Support now offers a one-to-one support service to people experiencing problematic alcohol use and living in Dublin 15.

Education/Prevention

D15 Family Support facilitates a consistent approach to under 18 drug and alcohol education with local education providers and under 18 services. We seek to prevent children from developing harmful drug and alcohol use by supporting school achievement. We do this by facilitating access to educational assessments, therapies and programmes.

Evidence base

D15 Family Support offers evidence-based models and approaches to support family members in their situation. Programmes such as the 5-Step Method, Triple P Programme, Steps 2 Cope, SMART Recovery and Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA).

Referral options

Contact Mary, Maxine or Laura to make a referral. Click here to download the referral form.

     Phone Mobile Mary 086 8058785, Laura 087 9574215, Maxine 087 7091838     Phone Office 01-824 9590
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We provide a free and confidential service. 

When you contact the D15 Family Support service you will be offered a one-to-one intake session in our family friendly centre. At this session you will meet a family support worker and agree the next steps together. Click here to meet the team. 

Let us help you. Please contact us:
    Phone Mobile Mary 086 8058785, Laura 087 9574215, Maxine 087 7091838     Phone Office 01-824 9590

Testimonials

The Family support unit and the services provided by people like Philip and Mary are a godsend. The services provided me the opportunity for the first time in my life to confront things I never had before and feel that there was support available whenever I'd often felt alone and helpless. To have these resources, all for free, in an area like Blanchardstown, where so many people are affected by issues concerning mental health and drug misuse, and often have no idea how to seek help or support, it is essential. These services can be a lifeline for those who feel hopeless and lost, especially in areas like this, where it’s needed the most.
Eggshells…Anyone who has grown up with addiction knows that eggshells are what you walk on every day. It is an unpredictable, anxiety inducing, chaotic environment. Our Dad was one of the kindest, most loving, and generous people you could meet but for reasons we will never know, was a tormented soul that found relief from alcohol. Alcoholism is a family disease that leaves its scars on everyone and erodes your mental health. This impact is something that we continue to work on, learn from, and heal from today.

Recently we both completed the 5 Step method with the Dublin 15 Family support service (B.L.D.A.T.F). The team there are amazing, all you have to do is mention addiction and they understand, put you at ease, listen, and support you with heartfelt professionalism. Our case was unique, as our Dad passed away in Nov 2016, so we were completing the course retrospectively. However, we both still benefited hugely from this course and would encourage any affected family member (AFM) from addiction to reach out to the support available. Whether the addict is still in your life or not, you need support and time to heal.

One of the hardest parts of addiction can be accepting the impact your relationship with the addict has on you and learning to deal with it. Grieving for our Dad has taught us that you never ever get over someone you love when they pass away but you learn to accept it and live with it as time goes by. Living with the impact of growing up with addiction is similar, you never really get over it because it has shaped you and becomes part of you but accepting this, talking about it, and learning to walk with it is vital for the healing process.
As parents, I don't know how we would have managed a very traumatic year without all the support we received from the team. The difference the support has made to our family cannot be measured in words and will never be forgotten.
For me, my world fell apart when my child told me they were addicted to drugs. My personality took me to worse case scenario, I had no inkling of what to do, how to help or even the right way to react. It took me over a year of our lives spiraling to get to the services of BLDATF. The 5 Step programme was amazing, no it didn't make my son being an addict go away but it helped me so much to be able to speak my mind without fear of recrimination. My son the addict, was getting all the help he needed to help himself and this lovely lady, counsellor, therapist, shoulder to cry on, helped give me the tools to realise my feelings were valid and worthy of discussion. It was a safe place for me to say and feel exactly what I felt with no excuses or guilt. It was a wonderful service where I could rant, rave, ask questions or just cry and cry with frustration. I would recommend anyone finding themselves in this awful, devastating, sad situation to avail of this service. The staff were discreet, no finger pointing, lovely and respectful of our circumstances. Thank you Laura, your advice and words meant so much.
I have done 5 Steps with Laura at the Blanchardstown Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force over the last few months, and I cannot thank her enough for absolutely everything she has helped me through. Going here has changed me in such a positive way and my outlook on life with family members in drug/alcohol addiction. Doing the 5 Steps was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I wish I knew about this a long time ago. I would highly recommend it to anyone who feels they are struggling with how to cope with a family member in drug/alcohol addiction. Laura made me feel so comfortable and helped me through one of the toughest times of my life. I can't recommend her enough.
I really enjoyed all of the PUP programme, getting down to kids level, playing with them, letting them use their imagination, paying more attention to them. The feeling wheel was very good, I used it and it worked brilliantly. Loved all of PUP.
I really enjoyed the PUP programme, the feelings wheel and the constructive sessions.
I enjoyed the programme from start to finish. It's really beneficial to my everyday life for me and the kids. Loved Maxine, she was a great teacher, bringing her experiences in made me so much more comfortable.
I enjoyed the PUP programme because everyone was so understanding and we all went through the same daily struggles in everyday life around family and our children.
Thanks Maxine for all the work and time you put into me. I’ve learned a lot about problem solving. You gave me the confidence to do this. I could not fail the service or the help I got and hopefully I wont be back, but if I do I know where to go thanks again.