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.

Dublin 15 Family Support Logo

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

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the care, compassion and thoughtfulness Maxine has shown me. Your words and presence have made a real difference, more than you realise. Thank you for listening with empathy, speaking with kindness and supporting with such grace. The genuine care shines through every step of the way and has been a true comfort during this time. I feel incredibly grateful to have your support while attending D15 Family Support. Thank you for being exactly who you are Maxine. I was made so welcome. I would/ will highly recommend the D15 Family Support Service to anyone with a family member in addiction.
July 2025
I have enjoyed every single session with Maxine. I have found it so useful in my daily routine. I have become calmer and more understanding of my situation. I would highly recommend D15 Family Support Service if someone is in a similar situation.
June 2025
I came to this service with little hope, after years of struggling with the impact of a family member’s addiction. When things reached their worst, this service became a safe space where I could speak openly, and feel truly understood with no judgement, and receive consistent support. They helped shine a light on a path forward during an incredibly difficult time. The 5-Step Intervention challenged me to look within and truly understand how I had been coping, and how it was affecting me both mentally and physically. It provided practical strategies for managing future situations, which have proven helpful not just in dealing with addiction, but in many areas of life. I would highly recommend this service and intervention to other families suffering from similar experiences. We all need a safe place to talk and the tools to take care of ourselves as we move forward. I can’t thank D15 Family Support Service enough for the support and help they provided my family in recent months; they have truly changed our lives.
May 2025
I have done the 5 step intervention with Laura in the D15 family support service. Having done the intervention, I have changed my way of thinking, and from the information provided, I have learned to cope better. I have realised I have more support than I thought and now the atmosphere in the house is better, arguments have reduced, I am less stressed and mine and my wife's relationship is much better.
April 2025
I was very nervous about talking to someone for the first time about my husband's addiction to alcohol. From the very first moment, Laura explained the whole background to the 5 step intervention and made me feel at ease. I always came out feeling a stone lighter. She gave me the opportunity to share my thoughts and fears, and talk about things I had been bottling up for years. Throughout our time together, Laura gave me tools and ways to manage stress and to understand more about addiction. Just knowing she is there to talk to is a huge comfort. I would recommend the amazing service that Laura and the team provide to anyone either struggling with addiction or family members affected. I am forever grateful.
April 2025
Laura, thank you for all that you do. Your compassion, empathy and guidance has made a major impact on my life. Your ability to listen and understand has been a constant source of comfort and support. I appreciate the safe and non-judgmental space you provide, allowing me to openly share my thoughts and feelings. Your expertise and wisdom have helped me grow and develop in ways I never thought would be possible. I'm grateful for the time and energy you invested in helping me become the best version of myself. You helped me work through the struggles of living with an alcoholic, and helped me notice a lot of how it affected me mentally. Understanding that we can’t change the person was something I couldn’t grasp before I started. When I started with Laura my stress levels were very high. By the end of my sessions my stress levels had dropped significantly and I seriously couldn’t recommend D15 Family Support enough.
April 2025
I worked with Laura from Dublin 15 Family Support for a number of months. She helped me work through my struggles of living with an alcoholic parent, and helped me notice a lot of how this person was affecting me mentally. Understanding that we can’t change the person but we can change ourselves, how we view the addiction and how I react and handle certain situations. When I started with Laura my stress levels were almost at the top of the scale, at the end of our coursework it had reduced by more than half simply because I now know how I can help myself in situations, instead of focusing on changing the person with the addiction. I couldn’t recommend D15 Family Support enough.
March 2025
My son had mental health issues which then went down the road of drugs and addiction. To say it has been traumatising is an understatement. We as a family were walking on eggshells on a daily basis and never knew what the day would bring. Its been scary to say the least and affected us all deeply. While trying to get help for my son I was told about the 5 Step programme so I put my name down and was given a place on the programme. I'm so delighted I did it and it's been an eye opener in as far as it taught me how to deal with different situations and how to respond and what to say. I learned a lot about myself, and my emotions, and addiction, and a whole lot more. The difference in me from the first session to the last was amazing. I felt I could cope and deal with a lot more. I enjoyed the programme and found it very educational. I would definitely recommend this programme, and I would just like to add on a personal note, I found Maxine to be excellent and very good at taking me out of my comfort zone and seeing the wood from the trees.....She's a great asset to the programme and excellent at what she does. Loved her accent too...Thanks so much for all your help and encouragement.
February 2025
Personally, I found the 5 Step intervention unbelievably helpful. Before I began the programme I was hesitant in opening up on opening up on my personal experience with a family member in addiction. Firstly, I have always struggled in allowing myself to be concerned about my own mental health, childhood experiences and trauma. But Maxine opened my eyes and helped me realise that my emotions, experience and mental well being is valid and worthy. I found the service to be extremely welcoming and the member of staff not only to be exceedingly knowledgeable but understanding. Having someone to talk to that completely understands your personal experience has brought me great peace, and allowed me to become more confident and open to asking for help. While it took a bit longer than 5 session to finish the programme, each step helped me come to terms with my experience and grow from it. Finally, I would absolutely recommend the 5 Step intervention for families who have a loved one in addiction.
February 2025
I attended the 5-Step Method intervention in D15 Family Support service with Maxine. I have to say she made me feel very at ease from the word go. There were times it wasn’t easy as I was in crisis when I started. It’s been great having the support and guidance of Maxine who is very professional and caring. I would recommend this intervention to anyone who has a family member in addiction, it really helped me grow and heal a lot. From a loving mother.
February 2025