Drug Dependency

There are many things in our lifestyle that we can become dependent on to feel OK, not just alcohol or other drugs. A person is considered to have a dependency (also commonly referred to as addiction) when there is a strong need to use a chemical or perform a particular behaviour to feel "normal".

The nature of dependency is such that it can create problems for us and the imbalance caused by relying on drug use to get by or cope can impact on relationships and families.

As those closely involved are affected by the dependent or problematic drug use behaviour, so too, can the person with the drinking or drug problem be affected or influenced by the people around them.

Family and friends often find themselves struggling to understand why the person simply cannot change or stop and often feel they have tried many different things to get the person to change or get help, only to find that for all their efforts the problem still persists.

Holyoake's family education support groups provide more information on understanding drug / alcohol dependency, family dynamics and developing effective responses to reduce problems caused by substance use.