A woman (49) contacted us shortly after our launch. Having known her through a family friend, she sought support for herself and a family member (34) who had struggled with substance abuse for a decade. She was aware of some existing support groups but felt they weren't enough.
After explaining our services, the woman (client) referred herself and shared our information with the family member (referred to as "him" or "they" throughout) and their sibling (55). All three engaged in the program: weekly coaching for the family member and bi-weekly sessions for the client and their sibling using our intervention booklets. Family activity boxes also helped involve extended family members affected by the family member's addiction and improve communication.
Initial engagement was positive, but towards the end of the first quarter, the family members became less involved and their behaviour worsened with increased substance use. Despite this, the client and their sibling continued, learning about boundaries and detachment. The family member's behaviour escalated, leading to job loss, aggressive behaviour with their housemate, and an assault.
Through continued contact with the client and their sibling, we reached out to the family member again and successfully re-engaged them. Sessions focused on past rehab experiences, identifying triggers (unemployment, housing, family, hobbies), and relapse prevention.
The family member now has a new, accountable job with random drug tests, has rekindled their passion for fitness, and is rebuilding family relationships. Their aunt reports a significant improvement in their well-being. We've also included their sibling's spouse in the program.
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