Support and treatment options

Treatment must be tailored to the needs and abilities of an individual. Effective treatment depends on the substances the person is using, their level of dependence, their readiness to change and their past experiences with services.

Helping a parent to understand there is support available to assist with making changes to their alcohol and other drugs use is important. It may mean talking through past experiences with services: 

• What worked well? 
• What was difficult? 
• What would help now? 

Ensure parents have the option to access culturally appropriate services or identify the specific cultural supports they may need. This could include going to a treatment option on Country or being closer to family when receiving treatment. Be flexible so parents can ensure their social, emotional and cultural wellbeing are included in their specific alcohol and other drugs treatment needs.

Provide parents with information about the services available and offer to assist with referrals as a first step.

If parents are new to engaging with an alcohol and other drugs services, explain their first contact is likely to include:

• an initial assessment over the phone or face-to-face 
• support and treatment to assist the parent’s goals for change to their alcohol and other drugs use.

Common treatment options

Pharmacotherapy services

These are in each region in both public and private settings. Prescribed medications such as methadone and buprenorphine can help people stop using non-prescribed medicines.

Inpatient detox

This is usually short term and medication assisted. A person is admitted as an inpatient.

Long-term inpatient rehabilitation

Rehabilitation often includes intensive and structured treatments. These programs can run anywhere from 3 to 12 months.

Drug and alcohol counselling

These services provide outpatient counselling on a regular basis. Counselling can be short term (6–10 weeks), but some services provide long-term support.

Outpatient groups

These may be weekly outpatient services or may be groups requiring attendance 2–3 days per week.

Stimulant treatment programs

These programs are designed to support clients who use stimulants (methamphetamine, cocaine and other amphetamine-type substances) and who wish to develop safer ways of using or to quit.

Self-help groups

Several self-help groups exist in different districts. These include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery.

When discussing treatment options for parents from CALD backgrounds, consider which barriers may impact their ability to attend or access treatment, including language difficulties, immigration status, and cultural perceptions and spiritual and religious beliefs about health, drugs and alcohol use that may be different to western models of health and harm reduction approaches. 

To ensure CALD families have and perceive choice, ask if they would prefer a service provider or practitioner who is of the same cultural background as themselves; their choice should not be assumed, simply based on their cultural background (Sawrikar et al.). 

Working with alcohol and other drugs support services

Alcohol and other drug services support parents through treatment and recovery and see progress and monitor changes. This includes being able to see risks and protective factors for children.

Coordinate, support, and engage with professionals from alcohol and other drug support services to ensure both the parent’s and the child’s perspectives are considered in the treatment and support provided to the parent.

Maintain contact with services to:

• build and sustain communication with alcohol and drug support services, as they play a key role in assisting parents
• focus on helping professionals understand both perspectives:
  • discuss the importance of a family-centred approach and explore ways to work together to support the child and family
  • help alcohol and drug professionals understand the assessment of harm and risk of harm for the child, and how collaboration can benefit both children and parents
  • encourage professionals to connect with the parent’s role. Explain how they can support parents in strengthening their relationships with their children and why this is essential.

By engaging with these services, ensure a holistic and collaborative approach that prioritises the safety and well-being of the child while supporting the parent’s recovery.

Partnering with services

Collaboration between child protection and drug and alcohol services is crucial for good outcomes. These are complementary services, but they also have their differences.

Your primary job is as an advocate for children and their safety. Children are always your primary client. While their whole family and alcohol and other drugs professionals must be spoken with and worked with, the needs of the child always come first.

For most alcohol and other drugs treatment programs, the user of the alcohol or drug is the primary client. Service is designed to suit their needs. While family life may be part of their assessment, the person’s relationship with substances is more likely to be the focus of intervention.

Recovery can be a long process, but a child’s safety must be addressed immediately. This balance is only possible with the support of families and their network, which could include community and alcohol and other drugs service providers. 

Partnering with culturally appropriate services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Consider linking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific alcohol and other drugs treatment services that incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of healing. Ensure you have a conversation with the parent about whether they would prefer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing to be incorporated into their alcohol and other drugs treatment plan. 

If a parent does not want a specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service or there is not one available to access, you will need to explore what alcohol and other drugs local services are available and work with them to adjust how they can meet the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people because it is important that:

• interventions are delivered in culturally meaningful ways
• traditional healing practices are used
• respect for cultural differences is preserved (Smith et al.).

There may be some barriers that you will need to consider for you, your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and community partners.

Be aware there are cultural reasons why some professionals may not be able to work with other professionals. A person may not be able to talk to particular people because of family relationships (kinship). For example, they cannot talk to their cousin or father-in-law because of cultural reasons. Do not assume that the worker is not doing their job, rather approach with curiosity to explore if there are reasons why they appear to not want to talk to a particular community member.

People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds

Finding services to support a person with a CALD background with their substance use may require additional exploratory enquiries to ensure they will meet the persons cultural needs. Explore: 

• if the alcohol and other drugs service has formal policies, practices or strategies to support people from CALD communities to access or participate in treatment
• what CALD services are available to support alcohol and other drugs work with the family
• how CALD counsellors and alcohol and other drugs services can work together
• how a service may accommodate a parent’s religious, cultural and spirituality needs throughout treatment
• the potential need to include family members in treatment and recovery plans (be guided by parents about this)
• if a parent wants a culturally specific service (never assume they do) 
• with parents if they experience stigma or shame from family or community about their substance use.

Tips for supporting recovery

Being active in the community and using peer support groups and activities are important predictors of recovery.

Mutual support groups are made up of people who share their experiences about how their lives have been affected by alcohol and other drugs. They may share their progress, success and hopes for the future. Volunteers typically run these groups to help members support each other. The groups are recovery focused, and provide social and emotional support and other information. 

To find local meetings in your area go to:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• SMART Recovery Australia
• Al Anon Family and Friends
• Alateen (for teenagers whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking) 
• Welcome to Narcotics Anonymous Australia.

Relapse is an opportunity – not the end

Problematic alcohol and other drugs use is a chronic and relapsing condition and it may take some attempts before a parent is able to maintain their goal of recovery.

A lapse can be useful for a parent if they are able to learn from the situation and then put preventative strategies in place to reduce the chances of it happening again. If a person lapses and re-commences problematic use, then this is a relapse.

Your role will always be to keep connected with what lapse and relapse means for a child, to look at ways to make sure the child is safe, and to determine what steps need to be taken.

Contact details for support services

There are a range of support services, over the phone, online or in person, that young people can access for support on their substance use. 

Support services - telephone

Lifeline (13 11 14) can be used immediately if a young person needs to talk to someone. This is a useful number to include in the safety plan.

Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)  (1800 177 833) is a 24-hour support line. It provides information, telephone counselling and referrals for people struggling with alcohol and other drugs use, families and friends of users, and health and welfare professionals.

Counselling Online This is a free, online text-based counselling service for people using alcohol and other drugs, and also their family and friends. Counselling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also get information, support and referrals for more help.

Family Drug Support (1300 368 186) is a 24-hour telephone support line for families affected by drugs and alcohol. It also provides education and referral and facilitates support groups across Australia.

Support services – online

Alcohol and Drug Foundation This organisation develops and distributes free and quality-assured information on alcohol, other drugs and harm prevention through a range of programs, websites and services.

ATSICHS Safe and deadly places offers LGBTQI+ support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The organisation is committed to being a truly inclusive organisation to eliminate isolation, raise the health and wellbeing needs of Brotherboys, Sistergirls and LGBTQI+ mob and for everybody to feel safe, accepted, valued and supported. 

headspace provides information for young people about alcohol and other drugs use and provides mental health services for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years.

Dovetail provides clinical advice and professional support to workers, services and communities who engage with young people affected by alcohol and other drugs use.

QNADA provides an overview of the specialist non-governmental youth services providing alcohol and other drugs services in Queensland who are members of the Youth AOD services network.

Quit provides a free and confidential telephone counselling service for adults and young people needing support to decrease their use of cigarettes or vapes. The website also provides information and resources on the impacts of smoking and vaping and strategies to reduce use. 

ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people. It provides practical support to help them get through life, from everyday issues to tough times. It has articles and online tools and also has information for parents and carers.

YoDAA is Victoria's Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice service for young people, parents, and youth workers. The website has excellent information and resources, including apps and videos.

Support services – programs

Alcoholics Anonymous for young people This organisation provides services for young people and can help them work out whether they have a problem with drinking.

Ted Noffs Foundation This organisation provides essential services for young people who are experiencing trauma related to alcohol and other drugs.

Open Doors offers support for LGBTIQ+ young people and their families.