Did you know YFCC’s ATODS service has been helping people of all ages reduce the impact of the drugs and/or alcohol on their lives for over 25 years? In that time, we’ve seen a lot of change and also some things that stay the same. Alcohol and cannabis have remained constant substances people seek support for, while synthetic drugs or New (and Emerging) Psychoactive Substances have become more common in recent years. Over that time, we have continued to support a broad range of Northwest Tasmanians to reach their own goals in regard to their substance use, and other related domains of their lives. We are pleased to have witnessed the reduced stigma and shame people who use drugs experience, however we acknowledge there is still a long way to go in this regard. One small and simple step we can all make is to understand that no-one chooses addiction, people are most commonly self-medicating for underlying issues including childhood trauma, mental illness and physical pain. When people who use drugs are referred to negatively (as is often the case in the media) it does nothing to promote a sense of inspiration towards recovery, it simply re-iterates the feeling of loss and shame our clients may suffer.
If you or someone you love is impacted by drug and/or alcohol use, contact us for free, confidential and non-judgmental support:
6423 6635 or atods@yfcc.com.au
