Summary
There is no single cause or reason as to why a person may develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The clients who come to Frontline Make Change each week may be struggling with unresolved life stresses, trauma, or loss, or their recreational drug use has spiraled out of control. Our addiction practitioners don't judge clients on their situation; their job is to provide non-judgmental support and advice in a safe environment. In this blog post we look at a case study of a client that takes us from their care plan to recovery.
There is no single reason why a person develops an addiction to drugs or alcohol. People experience addiction for many different reasons.
Each week, clients come to Frontline Make Change seeking support. Some struggle with unresolved stress, trauma, or loss. Others find that their recreational drug use has gradually become unmanageable.
Our addiction practitioners do not judge clients based on their circumstances. Instead, they provide compassionate, non-judgemental support and advice. They create a safe environment where clients can explore their challenges and work towards recovery.
This case study follows one client’s recovery from benzodiazepine addiction. It highlights the role of a personalised care plan, support groups, and a structured treatment programme in supporting long-term recovery.
Melissa* reached out to Frontline’s Inchicore addiction support service after struggling with an addiction to benzodiazepines for several years. Her drug use had increased after losing a close relative and she realised that she needed support to deal with her addiction.
PERSONALISED CARE PLAN
At Melissa’s first meeting with one of our addiction practitioners, a care plan was put in place for her. A care plan is a personalised plan that is put together for a client, which outlines what supports are going to be put in place for them. Melissa’s care plan consisted of:
– Weekly key working sessions
– A community detox with her GP
– An 8-week addiction support programme run by Frontline
Throughout the 8-week addiction support programme, Melissa made significant progress. She learned relapse prevention techniques and developed strategies to understand and manage her cravings. In addition, she learned how to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) and create realistic plans to achieve them. As a result, she built the skills and confidence needed to support her recovery.
STABILISATION PROGRAMME
She continued to progress further with her recovery by taking part in Frontline’s 12- week stabilisation programme where she utilised all that she had been learning and pushed herself out of her comfort zone to successfully complete the programme.
Following the completion of the addiction support and stabilisation programmes with Frontline, Melissa went on to successfully complete a community detox. She is now completely drug free, has recently started a college course and is planning for her future.
If you or a family member need support with drug or alcohol issues, you can contact us here or phone 01 4736502 to make an appointment. We have locations in Bluebell, Inchicore and the North Inner City of Dublin and we are open Monday – Friday.
*The client’s name has been changed to protect their anonymity.
Read more client case studies here.
