Family Addiction Support Network Press Release

Family Addiction Support Network (FASN) shut down it’s services at Lios Dubh on 12th March in line with the COVID19 Government Guidelines but more than ever families needed support. As a result, FASN developed online services for family members impacted by a loved one’s substance misuse using a fully GDPR compliant communications platform as best practice.

What we are experiencing from supporting Family Members is the increased worry and psychological stress, strain on family relationships, intimidating behaviour by a loved one’s addiction, financial burden of supporting drug user to buy drugs, impact on mental health from stress and worry of lockdown and caring responsibilities, isolation and loss of social life.

Our fundraising activities have all been cancelled due to Government Guidelines leaving us with no core funding and no fundraising activities in which to carry on supporting families and communities impacted by the increase in home drinking, domestic violence, isolation and threats of drug related intimidation amid this pandemic.

Following our Stop the Stigma event on 24th February, Sinead Hussey RTE contacted the FASN to conduct an interview to shine a light on the work of volunteers responding to the drugs issue within their community in the North East.

The interview took place at our premises in Lios Dubh, Dundalk on 12th June. Please click on the link below to access the news item featured on yesterdays 6pm RTE News.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0621/1148718-addiction-dundalk/