Identity of our Association
Up to date: acceptance-oriented parent self-help
Our association considers itself as umbrella organisation for parents and relatives, who demand a humane drug policy within the meaning of the Constitution. It is carried by parent initiatives from the entire Federal Republic. The goal is a stronger collaboration and a stronger exchange between parent groups, which are engaged in acceptance-oriented drug work.
The work of our association has a health-promoting character with widespread impact. It is not only intended to achieve the own convalescence with the self-help of the affected parents, but with the key point “acceptance-oriented parent work” it is also intended to seek harm minimisation for our drug consuming children. The prevention of their misery and a therewith associated increased willingness to apply infection prophylaxis has a health policy worth, not only for the users but also for the “normal public” since thereby the spreading of infections (especially Hepatitis + HIV) is prevented.
Parent self-help takes place in our parent circles in a collective group process without outside help. The same worries, hardships, fears, the same hopes and wishes but also the same anger and desperation have brought us together.
Self-help forces of every individual are stimulated with the exchange of information and experiences amongst the group members and with their assistance in search of possible solutions in crisis situations.
The groups offer protection and security, they are places of exchange of experience, spaces where one can unwind, where one can learn to perceive people, facts and circumstances and oneself from a different point of view and to possibly grant them a different significance. The groups have consequently a relieving function. Relieving not only for the individual but also for the society since self-help is as good as free. Would the immense pressure which relatives of drug addicts are submitted to, be relieved only through professional help, this would be a not-to-underestimate cost factor in the health care system. All these experiences are collected and forwarded by the Federal Association.
Normally oneself and coping up with one’s own conflicts stands in the middle of the self-help. But the drug problem affects the whole family. The conclusion from that is that we parents make an effort for the well-being of all family members and that includes our drug-addicted child.
Hence results the social and societal obligation for the parents and our association to take influence so that the present discriminating and segregating life conditions of the drug addicts improve in favour of humane and integrative life conditions, also for those addicts who don’t manage to live in abstinence permanently.
Public relations and further education are an indispensable feature of our association work.
Jürgen Heimchen, Chairman