When you’ve got an out of control drug or alcohol user in the family, the last thing you want to do is talk about it.
You watch that person transform and lose control, and you wonder why they don’t notice what they’re losing – but you don’t want to tell friends, neighbours, the rest of the family.
Gradually they slip out of view at family gatherings, and you are left wondering if you will ever get them back before it’s too late.
If you’re lucky, someone will point you in the direction of one of the excellent family support groups around the country. The work of these services cannot be underestimated – if you are in any doubt, read a mother’s story on page 8.