Hansard

I begin by indicating that we are happy to accept both amendments.

It is well recognised that Scotland still has an enormous problem with drug addiction, which puts a significant strain on local authority, health and police services. On top of that, members of the public and—most important—members of addicts’ families are widely and directly affected by our country’s drug problem. They may be faced with trying to rescue sons, daughters or grandchildren from the chaotic lifestyle of the addict—indeed, many kinship carers are in that role because of family drug addiction—or they may have to cope with bereavement as a result of overdose. Sadly, that is not uncommon and is proof of the tragic consequences of Scotland’s drugs epidemic. As Annabel Goldie has stated:

“Each death represents not just a life needlessly lost, but a family devastated and a community scarred.”

People may try to support a relative along the long and hard road to recovery, as family support is a hugely important aspect of an addict’s recovery. Sadly, those who give such support often suffer considerable distress and face stigma and discrimination, which put barriers in the way of recovery. When Sheila McKay of the Grampian Family Support Forum addressed the Parliament at time for reflection on 7 March, she said:

“Knowing that a family member has a drug problem is a painful and lonely experience.”—[Official Report, 7 March 2012; c 6921.]

It is therefore only right that family members who give their unconditional support to their loved ones are given support themselves. That is where family support groups, which are formed to help families that are affected by drug misuse and addiction, play a vital role. They enable families to communicate with others in similar situations, to learn from one another’s experiences and to build relationships that are imperative to their wellbeing in an environment of mutual understanding.

The Scottish Families Affected by Drugs national forum started as a grass-roots organisation in 2003 that involved families who expressed their desire to become a united force in raising awareness of the difficulties that they faced. It is a membership organisation, and family members account for two thirds of the membership. It is governed by a voluntary board of directors, describes itself as

“the hub of a network of family support groups across Scotland”

and has the vision of a Scotland that recognises and supports the needs of families that are affected by the drug misuse of a loved one and the crucial role that is played by families. Its mission is to support families in Scotland that are affected by drug misuse and to raise awareness of the issues that affect them. To achieve that, it facilitates a network of family support groups, runs a national helpline and lobbies for the recognition of families in both national and local drug treatment policies. Importantly, families are at the heart of the organisation, providing information on local networks and access to funding, and supporting around 40 local groups, with just over 200 individual members.

I have no doubt that other members will tell us about support groups in their own parts of Scotland, but I want to focus on the Grampian Family Support Forum in my region, which was set up as recently as 2010 by family members and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs, and is funded by the Aberdeenshire alcohol and drug partnership. It is part of the achieving community empowerment programme, and has already made great progress towards facilitating a network of local support groups. It acts as an umbrella organisation within which local family support groups throughout Grampian can effectively communicate with one other, and was a successful participant in the third phase of the Parliament’s community partnership project. It reported back to Parliament on its work over the past year at the outcome ceremony that was held in the chamber at the end of March.

Under the leadership of its tireless chairman, Sheila McKay, the Grampian Family Support Forum is an excellent example of what can be achieved. It could lead the way for peer support right across Scotland. The Grampian model has shown that, given the right forum, families are more than willing to use their own experiences to help other families in the same position, but families need to be made aware of the existence of such fora. Perhaps general practitioners have a role in signposting them to a local support group.

I first met Sheila McKay when I sponsored an event for her, entitled “recovery happens”. It was a highly successful event, which was well attended by north-east MSPs from all parties and helped to increase our awareness that recovery from addiction can and does happen and that family members have an important role during recovery. Members of the Grampian forum were present, as were other groups that play a significant and essential role in recovery, such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and the Scottish Recovery Consortium. Local groups of affected families and people who were recovering from drug addiction were also present.

We heard the remarkable and inspiring story of Jane and her journey from addiction to alcohol and heroin to recovery, such that she now works for a voluntary organisation and counsels victims of similar addictions. We heard Betty’s story—the story of an amazing mother and grandmother who has held her family together despite several tragic events and who continues to help a loved one who is recovering from drug addiction. We heard from Daniel, who is converting his grief at losing his brother to addiction into films that are aimed at raising awareness of the issues that he and others have faced. The personal stories were extremely moving and the stresses that the people who told them had experienced were clear to see.

The contribution from families is continuous, arduous and critically important. Groups such as the Grampian forum try to highlight that families can and do learn from one another, that there needs to be a focus on recovery for families as well as for addicts, that families want to use and draw on their experience to help other families, and that families want to secure better services for people who are trying to recover from addiction and regain their lives.

Like us, the forum thinks that the ultimate goal for recovering addicts is total abstinence from addictive drugs, and that peer support is vital if recovering addicts are to achieve that. The forum thinks that we need more resources in place, such as easier and speedier access to residential rehabilitation, coupled with better follow-up support. It thinks that there needs to be an exit strategy for people who take methadone or other such harm-reduction treatment, which should not be for the long term.

The Grampian Family Support Forum has strong views on what is necessary to aid recovery, which my party shares. First, simply returning addicts to the community without support is ineffective; proper aftercare is required if any model of rehabilitation is to be effective. Secondly, it should be acknowledged that relapse is part of recovery. That should be taken account of in recovery programmes, and support should be available when relapse occurs. Thirdly, even after recovery from addiction it takes time to rebuild a life, and support for recovering addicts and families is vital at that stage. There is a gap in provision in that regard.

The United Kingdom Drug Policy Commission said in a report in 2009 that at that time 134,000 adults in Scotland were significantly affected by problematic drug use in their families. Family members reported feeling isolated, stressed, stigmatised and guilty. Stigma is a particular problem that must be tackled because it not only affects the people who are using drugs but spreads to family members. The media’s use of words such as “junkies” only adds to the stigma. Organisations such as the Grampian forum are fighting an on-going battle to get the media to be more careful about what they say.

We are still far from eradicating drug addiction in Scotland, and many people who want to be free of addiction still have to wait far too long for appropriate rehabilitation. There is much that we could say about that. However, today’s debate is about support for families. I acknowledge the Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in national organisations such as Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and the Scottish Recovery Consortium, which help families and communities to support “sustained recovery across Scotland”, as the amendment in Roseanna Cunningham’s name says.

I can do no better than conclude by quoting again from Sheila McKay’s time for reflection speech:

“Our core aim is to encourage the formation of new peer-support groups and increase the membership of those that already exist ... Since the project started, our numbers have increased from three to 21 throughout the north-east of Scotland. Our profile has been raised, our opinions have been valued and our voice has been heard ... we are making an impact and planting the seeds of change.

We want to use our lived expedience to make positive changes within our communities. Why? Because, when you are qualified to speak, people listen ... Built into every trial that we go through in life—every trial that forces us to grow—are the answers that other people need.”—[Official Report, 7 March 2012; c 6921-2.]

Those are wise words from the heart, from a mother who has successfully travelled along the road of family addiction.

I move,

That the Parliament recognises the importance of family members recovering in their own right from the effects that their loved-ones’ drug misuse has on them; notes that family support groups provide a vital resource for families to get support for their own needs and to build relationships with others in similar circumstances; recognises the continuing challenges that small peer-led family support groups across Scotland face to sustain themselves; congratulates the Grampian Family Support Forum on its successful participation in the third phase of the Parliament’s Community Partnership Project and notes the success of the forum’s Recovery Happens event held in the Parliament on 1 March 2012 enabling the forum to further its support base on its campaign; further recognises the importance of these groups in breaking down barriers around stigma and discrimination related to substance misuse and addiction; understands that substance misuse and addiction do not discriminate in relation to who they affect and are important and destructive issues for families and Scottish society as a whole, and encourages that the forum’s vision is rolled out throughout Scotland so that communities across the country can learn from its example.