Strong demand prompts reprint of resource pack on drug abuse

A resource pack for families dealing with drug abuse has been published in Dublin.

Though initially produced last year, demand for the pack - produced by families dealing with drug abuse and the first of its kind in Ireland - has been such that the CityWide Family Support Network was given funding to double its print-run this time. "Last year we were absolutely inundated with calls for the pack, from all over the country," said Sadie Grace, chairwoman of CityWide.

The pack is largely unchanged, opening with the story of one family's painful journey from naive ignorance of their son's heroin addiction, through the isolation and fear and finally to the empowering acceptance that only the addict can take responsibility for their own recovery.

It also provides vital practical information on, for example, the health implications of drug misuse and a section, with pictures, on the drugs out there - including cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, solvents, ketamine, magic mushrooms and LSD. "In this revised edition we have also included information on what to do when there's an overdose," said Ms Grace. This section describes the signs of an overdose, ie the person may seem in a deep sleep or unconscious, their lips pale or blue and they may have trouble breathing. It advises family members to call an ambulance, and shows how to place the person in the recovery position until the ambulance arrives.

There is a section on the issue of home-testing kits that can test the suspected drug misuser's urine for drugs. It urges people to have supports in place in case a positive result is found. "It is a really devastating thing to discover your child is a user," says Ms Grace, "so it's important people talk through the idea of testing with their GP or some other support."

The resource pack is available from Sadie Grace at CityWide on (01) 8365090