Support
Family Force
A new project is reaching out
to families of former members
of the UK Armed Forces with
substance use problems, as
Rob Stebbings explains
IT’S NO SECRET that substance use often affects the lives of former members of
the UK Armed Forces. This can take many forms – from self-medication to help
come to terms with a traumatic experience to difficulty transitioning from the
heavy episodic drinking culture. It’s a serious issue that needs addressing.
However, there is another group of people affected by this issue. The families
are a hidden group whose voices are seldom heard, with little or no support
available and barely any recognition or research.
Thanks to funding from Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), Adfam and the
University of York are working together to understand the experiences and
needs of families of former members of the UK Armed Forces with substance
use problems and what can be done to support them.
To help us achieve this we are grateful to have vital input from three family
members with lived experience, and four partner organisations—the Armed
Forces charity SSAFA, HMP Parc in Wales, Tom Harrison House in Liverpool, and
Bristol Drugs Project.
Amanda, one of the family members supporting us shares her experience:
I became involved in this project when I read an email from Adfam and thought, ‘I
want to know more about this’. The topic is close to my heart after seeing my
brother-in-law’s deterioration from a proud warrant officer class 2 in the British
Army who lived for his job, to his ultimate death from alcohol addiction after he
had left the forces. This has impacted on my family’s everyday life in so many
ways and whilst we remember him fondly this is often tainted by the frustration
of not being able to prevent his death. I am also the mother of a rifleman who at
25 is also very aware of the pitfalls of army life, but in listening to his stories of
the young men he works with I see that the cycle of coping through the use of
substances continues. I am hoping my involvement with the project will provide
families with the support they need and believe that Adfam and the University of
York can deliver this for them.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Junaid tells us how he became involved in making
a film for the 2017 Recovery Street Film Festival
In 2015 I was using crack
cocaine and daily
endangering my own life.
I was involved in car crime
and mentally and physically
not in a very good place.
The first time I got
arrested and went to prison I
stopped using but when I
came out I was putting
myself in more risky and
dangerous situations. The
last time I was arrested I was
in a really dangerous car chase and ended up crashing into a lamppost. I think I
almost did it subconsciously – I wanted to get caught.
In prison I had some contact with support services and found out about the
damage that crack cocaine does your brain’s dopamine receptors. I learnt that
they needed to heal and that’s when I realised that rather than keep going back,
I needed to be patient and give my body time to repair. When I left prison I
recognised I couldn’t do it on my own and went to R3 to get support. I am so
fortunate that I got help because with the road I was on someone could have got
seriously hurt and I don’t know where I would be today.
Creating the film Making up 4 lost time was a great experience and a really
relevant theme because I lost a lot of time in addiction. Our aftercare group
made the film, and working on a project together gave us an opportunity to
socialise and combine our skills. We all found it a cathartic process and really
helpful. Plus, at the end it was great fun going to the Curzon and seeing our film
shown on a big screen.
We used the instructions on the Recovery Street Film Festival website to help
us get going. We started with a storyboard and then went out and filmed. An
American rapper gave us permission to use his song which was about a mother
addicted to drugs and we used this as a basis for our story.
If you’re thinking of entering, don’t be shy. Whatever your idea is or how
obscure, just tell your story however you want to. There is no harm in doing it –
just go for it!
Two years on, I have just started volunteering with Humankind. I want to get
some qualifications and then hopefully work in the field. I am also working on
my film for this year!
ONLINE SURVEY
At the beginning of July we launched an online survey to hear from families
first-hand. Findings from the survey and the other parts of the research will
be used to develop a peer support intervention.
If you’re a family member affected by these issues, please do take part
in our survey and circulate information about it to your networks. All
participants are in with a chance of winning one of two £50 high street
vouchers.
Take part here: http://bit.ly/family-veterans-survey
To find out more about the project contact Lorna Templeton, senior research
fellow, University of York – [email protected]; or Rob Stebbings,
policy and communications officer, Adfam – [email protected]
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THE 2019 RECOVERY STREET
FILM FESTIVAL IS 1 AUGUST. The theme is ‘My Recovery Connections’ –
who were the individuals, people and communities that have supported
you? How did these connections help you on your recovery journey?
More information and tips for making your film at www.rsff.co.uk.
Watch Making up 4 lost time on the Recovery Street Film Festival
YouTube channel.
July/August 2019 | drinkanddrugsnews | 13