“The Families & Carers Group gives me strength”

Rachael describes how DHI’s Families & Carers Group helps her feel less alone and gives her the confidence and strategies to cope with her loved one’s problematic drug use.

Having a child who’s got a problem with drugs can feel isolating.

I started coming to the Families & Carers Group in January 2026. It took me a while to pluck up the courage. I kept telling myself that things would get better by themselves, but they didn’t. They just kept getting worse. I started suffering with depression.

The situation at home became intolerable. We were seeing psychotic behaviour, and there was emotional abuse. It was really hard.

I thought, I need somebody to talk to about this; someone who knows what I’m going through.

As soon as I joined the group, I realised that there are other people going through similar things. Everyone is here to support you, and you get to find out different ideas of what to do – both for yourself and your loved one. For example, my husband and I were encouraged to put a boundary in place, which I know is the right decision for our family.

I think there are many more families than people realise going through this. My child is now an adult, but their problems with drugs began in sixth form and got worse at university.

The group gives me strength. I tend not to worry about people judging me because I know I'm trying to be the best person I can and standing up for what is right for my family and my child’s future.

Since coming to the group, I've also felt able to speak to my colleagues at work and the rest of my family to let them know what's happening. I’m pleased to say, they've been really supportive.

It can be hard reaching out for help. If you think about it for too long, you probably wouldn't do it. But once I'd made the decision that something was going to have to change – that if we didn't do something, things were just going to carry on the way they were or get worse – I realised I had to start speaking out about the situation.

I would say to others in my position, don’t worry about reaching out for help. It was my GP who advised me to get in touch with DHI for support. Nobody's going to get into trouble or anything like that. They just want to be able to help with your situation.

There’s no happy ending to our story yet, but with help from the Families & Carers Groups, we’re beginning to move forward and feel that there is hope.

• Find out more about DHI’s FAM service.

• If you’d like to attend Reach Out, DHI’s annual event for Families & Carers, taking place on Thursday 18 June, email: events@dhibath.org.uk