Support as a Carer
Get in touch with CDP for confidential advice and support
Call us to talk about your problems or to book an appointment, or just drop in.
Telephone:
(01482) 225868
Visit:
CDP’s Drop-In Centre
61 Spring Bank, Hull HU3 1AG
Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 09:00 to 16:30
Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 to 19:00
Drop-In Centre
CDP’s Drop-In Centre service is called Open Access. It provides information on all aspects of drug use in simple clear, language, plus highly skilled services in rapid assessment, brief intervention, harm reduction and overdose advice, problem solving and triage, which assesses clients for referral to other local drug services.
Clients
We can see young people and adults from age 17 upwards
If you or someone you care for is under 17, then
Click here for further information to help Children
Worried that a member of your family or a friend is using drugs?
This is a real worry for many parents at some stage. However, it is impossible to give you a foolproof method of determining drug use, except by talking to the person.
DrugScope is a leading centre of expertise on drugs and gives this advice
“Some pamphlets and books have lists of signs and symptoms of drug use. They often include changes in school and work attendance, mood swings, changes in appearance, excessive tiredness, lack of appetite etc. The problem is that many of these things may be caused by things other than drug use and are relatively normal behaviours. Unless you happen to be with someone while they are intoxicated or high on drugs you may not see any clear signs and symptoms. Even behaviour that seems like intoxication could be due to other things such as mental health problems or shock.
A danger with following lists of signs and symptoms is that you will jump to the wrong conclusion. If you feel that there is something wrong with a person or that they are acting strangely, talk to them about what is going on in their life. Trying to spot signs and symptoms of drug use is no substitute for good communication.”
For further help, use the link above to go to the DrugScope site, click on Resources and then select FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions).
Adfam, a major charity that works for and with the families and friends of drug and alcohol users, offers very similar advice, but does give a list of possible indicators.
“If a member of your family is acting oddly, it’s sometimes difficult to know what’s causing a change in behaviour. One way to find out is to ask, but not confront. Try using what’s called ‘I’ statements. For example, ‘I’ve noticed that you seem different lately’, rather than ‘you’re acting strangely, what’s up?’ which can sound accusatory.
Being openly supportive is more likely to produce a response. If you’re worried about a teenager in the family, there are some things you can look for, but before we list them, here’s a word of caution. Sometimes, people assume that drink or drugs are causing changes in a teenager’s behaviour when the teenager is attempting to assert themselves as a young adult. A closed bedroom door needn’t mean that drugs and alcohol have become a problem.
With that in mind (and a reminder that most people who experiment with drugs and alcohol never develop problems) here are some signs to look out for:
Rapid and frequent changes in mood or behaviour
A new set of friends
Isolation (the closed door syndrome already discussed)
Things missing around the home – money, electronic items, jewellery
Unusual items – pieces of tin foil, burnt spoons, remains of cannabis cigarettes
Decline in personal hygiene
Change in sleeping patterns.”
For further help, use the link above to go to the Adfam site, click on HELP+INFO and then select Help for Families.
Further advice can be found in the “Worried about Someone” section of the Talk to Frank web site. Just click on the buttons: Parents, Friends and Stories.
The simple answer is – talk to them sympathetically and be openly supportive
Medical and Health Information
Please see the information provided on our Medical Advice and Alerts page
Family and Friends
CDP has a growing number of services to help Family and Friends, including parents, grand-parents and Carers, called saFFron, and continues to develop this area of work.
saFFron is CDP’s service for supporting and advising Family and Friends and there are a number of initiatives that we are looking to develop under the saFFron umbrella.
The saFFron project aims to create and extend a network of parent volunteers able to facilitate and develop one-to-one, group and telephone support to families adversely affected by members drug use. This approach should lead to a number of self-help and self-sustaining support groups.
For more details on this service in Hull and East Yorkshire, please click on this link.
From that page you can also view our leaflets on our Family and Friends Support Service, see our weekly timetable for Group Events and Drop In Sessions at other locations and get information to help you if a loved one is taken into prison.
The project works to better equip families and carers to sustain the gains made by a family member whilst in treatment
Need culturally sensitive advice, information and support?
CDP’s Ethnic Minorities outreach project, called access, offers much needed support and information in community centres, in religious and language schools and in the meeting places of befriending groups.
Working with ethnic minorities, creating a safe helpful environment is a challenge on its own. Respecting the different cultural backgrounds and having to put aside Western approaches means that we require the constant assistance and consultation of interpreters, professionals, community leaders and above all, potential service users.
To view our leaflet on our Ethnic Minorities Project, please click on this link
