Families seeking support as loved ones battle addiction

This is because many families are unsure about where to go and how to provide support.

Currently, Oscar finds that families and friends are struggling to set boundaries, with family members either enabling the addiction or struggling to love from a distance.

In response, the organization held a Community Support Meeting, which at least 50 people attended last night.

Damyan Davis, Director of Community Relations, says the meeting provided family members and friends with support and a wealth of resources from across the nation.

Conversations also helped individuals understand what addiction is, within themselves and others.

Overall, the director says the response to last night’s meeting was overwhelming.

“We’re seeing, I don’t think more people that are actively using, but because of what’s happened over the last couple of years, we’re having conversations that we never once had, pre-pandemic,” said Davis.

“People are starting to recognize when they aren’t ok. I think there’s a lot of awareness of when others are doing well, but at the end of the day we have to be self-aware of ourselves. Sometimes we don’t know what we are until we’ve heard someone else share their story,” he added.

The next Community Support Meeting takes place at Medicine Hat Library on March 16th at 6:30 p.m. Meetings will occur bi-weekly.

by Angela Kazmierczak

Families seeking support as loved ones battle addiction

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