USE 'TOUGH LOVE' TO HELP ADDICTS

RECENTLY my son told me that if he could go back to injecting his drug of
choice without consequences, he would begin again tomorrow.

But the consequences my son suffered with his addiction became greater than
the pleasure of using.

He made the choice to make a life for hmiself, but not until he had walked
a long, hard road.

As a damily that love him dearly, we had to make the painful choice to stop
enabling his addiction.

We knew we had to practise "tough love". That does not mean turning your
back and walking away. It means the opposite. It means: I love you enough
to say no.

Shooting galleries to me, sound like another form of enabling.

Why are we spending so much time talking about a drug? Addiction is about
the person, not the drug.

Our loved ones who are suffering from addiction need time out, long-term
treatment centres and education programs promoting emotional awareness and
growth: time out for their families and a glimpse of hope that is so
desperately needed.

Don't sell addicts short - they are intelligent, sensitive people who
deserve better.

Name Supplied, Melbourne suburbs