On May 15, the world community celebrates Family Day. The establishment of the holiday was announced at the UN General Assembly in 1993. The main goal of establishing the holiday is to draw the attention to the numerous problems and difficulties of the family institution and to offer ways out of crisis situations.
The family in any era is the basis of society; the life of every person begins in the family, the foundations of personality are laid in it. The family is the center of interaction between generations. The family as a system has a certain set of functions, rules and laws. It can be compared to a huge mechanism in which each family member acts as a cog. A healthy family is a family living in a healthy psychological climate, working to create physical, spiritual and social well-being for each member. The breakdown of any mechanism affects the work of the entire family system; the difficulties of one person inevitably affect all its members. A dysfunctional family is a family in which one or more members are under uncontrollable stress. Chemical dependence is also a type of stress.
The rules of a family with an addict begin to work only in his favor; the entire range of family resources goes to the addict. The situation is aggravated by the illness denial, uncontrollability, and relationships destruction. Regular stressful situations force the rest of the family to develop opportunistic behavior patterns.
Chemical dependence is one of the causes of family breakdown and children’s suffering. If both parents have a chemical addiction, children might become social orphans. In addition, children who grew up in the family of an alcoholic father and a codependent mother become one or the other themselves. Chemical dependence is a «contagious» disease.
Freedom from addiction is the key to family well-being. To get rid of chemical addiction, first of all, a person needs to admit the problem. And seeking advice and help from specialists give a chance to normalize life and save the family.
Belarus has a system of assistance aimed at creating conditions for preserving, strengthening and restoring the health of citizens suffering from addiction to psychoactive substances (surfactants - drugs, alcohol, tobacco (nicotine), caffeine, etc.).
The structure of the drug treatment service includes inpatient departments and day care departments. Each central district hospital has an office of a psychiatrist-narcologist to provide medical care to drug addicts and there are beds for the rehabilitation of addicted patients. The positions of psychiatrists and narcologists have been introduced for the adult population and for serving the adolescent population.
Based on state social standards, drug treatment services are free. For persons who apply to a health care organization voluntarily, anonymous treatment is provided without registration with a drug treatment center.
In order for other family members to help their loved one with chemical addiction, first of all, they themselves need to get help and support, learn to behave correctly and begin to recover from codependency themselves. The best way to solve this problem is through self-help groups. Today there are already many places in Belarus where loved ones of addicts can find help.
Informational
To receive drug treatment, you must first contact your medical institution, your attending physician. He will explain the algorithm and conditions of medical care.
To systematically provide advisory assistance to the population on the prevention of addictions, the work of «direct lines» and “helplines» has been organized.
In addition, in Belarus there is an online resource with the necessary information - Pomogut.by The web resource is focused on providing assistance to a specific citizen in a specific locality: from advice on drug addiction and overdose to providing assistance to minors (addicted, codependent).
The Minnesota model, which is based on the AA 12 Steps program, is effective in rehabilitating addicts. (Alcoholics Anonymous).
The website of the ROO «Central Service of Alcoholics Anonymous» (https://aabelarus.org/) contains information about fellowships in which people with experience help overcome alcohol addiction. Contact: +375(44)555-99-40.
For help, you can also contact the specialists of the institution «Fate and Hope»: +375296115703
Anyone who wants to overcome addiction has this opportunity. Health and family are the best choice!
