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You don’t have to deal with a loved one’s addiction alone

You don’t have to deal with a loved one’s addiction alone

21 June 2024

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stock image of man talking to another person

Community services Mental health

If you’re living with someone with an alcohol or drug use issue, or you’re worried that someone you care for is at risk of addiction, it can be hard. Hard to understand what’s happening and why. Hard to minimise risk and the potential for conflict. Hard to know what to do or how to help.

At St John of God’s Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network (DAWN), we provide treatment and support for people with substance-use issues, as well as families living with the often unsettling, sometimes dangerous effects of that substance use.

While no two families or substance-use challenges are the same, here are three things you can do to help yourself and your loved one.

Look after yourself. It can be easy to become so worried, so focused on your loved one that you forget about your health and wellbeing, but you can’t help them if you don’t look after yourself. So, make time for yourself. Ensure you’re eating well. If you can, talk to someone you trust about what’s happening. Opening up will enable your family and friends to support you. Alternatively, seek professional support. Your GP can help with this.
Take time out to educate yourself. The more you understand what substance use is, how addiction works and how to identify and manage the risks, the easier it is to understand what’s happening to your loved one, their behaviours and how to help. There are lots of online resources available, but the simplest way to learn more is to reach out for help.
Reach out for help. The Mental Health Commission’s free and confidential Alcohol and Drug Support Line is available to anyone in Western Australia seeking help for their own or another person’s alcohol or drug use. Call 9442 5000 or 1800 198 024 to access helpful information, counselling and referral advice. Alternatively, contact the team here at DAWN.

For more information about DAWN and how we can help you and your loved one, call 08 9388 5000, email [email protected] or visit www.sjog.org.au/dawn

Image of Manager for the Drug and Alcohol and Withdrawal Network David Balakrishnan

David Balakrishnan - Manager Drug & Alcohol Withdrawal Network

Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network (DAWN)

David Balakrishnan is originally from Singapore and started off his career in the military as a combat specialist. He moved on to become an Ambulance Officer with the Singapore Civil Defence Force managing a fleet of ambulances and training paramedics before settling down into the field of Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drugs. David has worked internationally completing his professional in residence training in Hazelden Betty Ford Centre in Palm Springs, California USA and at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada.

David has worked both internationally and across different states in Australia, including Victoria, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia as a Senior Clinician and in management roles. He has experienced many exciting events in his career in health, the most memorable being when he was tasked as the officer in charge involving mass casualties due to an industrial building collapse where he had to attend to casualties and coordinate Ambulance services to several Emergency Departments. Another high point in his career involved leading a Community Mental Health Team (Excellence in Mental Health) as its Service Manager in achieving the WA Health Excellence Award.

David is currently the Manager for the Drug and Alcohol and Withdrawal Network, a service providing in-home withdrawal to people in Perth metropolitan.