• myGriffith
    • Staff portal
    • Contact Us⌄
      • Future student enquiries 1800 677 728
      • Current student enquiries 1800 154 055
      • International enquiries +61 7 3735 6425
      • General enquiries 07 3735 7111
      • Online enquiries
      • Staff phonebook
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Griffith Research Online
    • Conference outputs
    • View Item
    • Home
    • Griffith Research Online
    • Conference outputs
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

  • All of Griffith Research Online
    • Communities & Collections
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • This Collection
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • Statistics

  • Most Popular Items
  • Statistics by Country
  • Most Popular Authors
  • Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Admin login

  • Login
  • Stepping stones program - the family perspective

    Author(s)
    Daglish, Anna MC
    Tsantefski, Menka
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Tsantefski, Menka
    Year published
    2021
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Introduction and Aims: Affected family members (AFM) play a critical role in supporting a relative experiencing substance dependence. Family Drug Support (FDS) is an Australia-wide non-government organisation supporting AFM. Since 2001, FDS has delivered the psycho-educational program Stepping Stones to over 2000 families. This study explores the experience of AFM who participated in the program, with the aim of including families' perspectives within the academic conversation, in policy and in service delivery. Design and Methods: Fourteen AFM who attended the Stepping Stones program between 2017 to 2019 contributed to ...
    View more >
    Introduction and Aims: Affected family members (AFM) play a critical role in supporting a relative experiencing substance dependence. Family Drug Support (FDS) is an Australia-wide non-government organisation supporting AFM. Since 2001, FDS has delivered the psycho-educational program Stepping Stones to over 2000 families. This study explores the experience of AFM who participated in the program, with the aim of including families' perspectives within the academic conversation, in policy and in service delivery. Design and Methods: Fourteen AFM who attended the Stepping Stones program between 2017 to 2019 contributed to this qualitative study. Telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Data was analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Key Findings: Four key themes were abstracted from the data; these were: Barriers to Accessing Support Services; The Power of Connection; Empowerment through Education; and Healing Family Systems. AFM experienced a reframe of stigmatisation and the reinstatement of self-agency and efficacy, through boundary setting, conflict resolution and effective communication with their relative. Coping and resilience strategies built capacity within the family system. Discussions and Conclusions: Diversity within the group setting in relation to socio-economic status, cultural background, parenting approaches, trauma stories and family constellation reflect the non-discriminatory nature of addiction. While normalisation of the experience and relief were recurrently reported, five participants revealed that protective factors were not enough to shield their relative from substance dependence. Overall, participation in the Stepping Stones program loosened the grip of family pathology, which had immobilised many AFM from engaging in help seeking. Implications for Practice or Policy: AFM are marginalised by stigma. This research highlights the importance of educating health professionals on family inclusive and anti-oppressive practice and challenges systemic and culturally embedded discrimination against individuals and families affected by substance dependence.
    View less >
    Conference Title
    Drug and alcohol review
    Volume
    40
    Issue
    1
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13384
    Subject
    Psychology
    Science & Technology
    Life Sciences & Biomedicine
    Substance Abuse
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/412048
    Collection
    • Conference outputs

    Footer

    Disclaimer

    • Privacy policy
    • Copyright matters
    • CRICOS Provider - 00233E
    • TEQSA: PRV12076

    Tagline

    • Gold Coast
    • Logan
    • Brisbane - Queensland, Australia
    First Peoples of Australia
    • Aboriginal
    • Torres Strait Islander