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Family Drug Support Australia
Family Drug Support provides up to date information on all aspects of alcohol and drug use relative to the families of people who use substances. FDS also operates a National 24 hr, 7 day a week telephone support service for families affected by alcohol and other drug issues.
FDS Online for Families
FDS 1 to 1 Online Sessions
Language Matters!
At FDS we have always tried to avoid using negative labels such as junkie, druggie, and addict which tend to shame and stigmatize people who use drugs and by association their families. We also try to avoid using common ideas and concepts which really do not help families deal with substance issues.
Tony's Book
Tony Trimingham
FDS CEO and Founder
Tony has worked for the past four decades as a counsellor, group leader and psychotherapist. Tony founded Family Drug Support in 1997 that is now a well-respected and established national service for families of people who use substances.
ACHS Accredited
Walking a Tightrope
Tightrope Walker Explanation and Balance Pole Metaphor
When someone is confronted with a major crisis, such as a breakdown of marriage or relationship, serious illness, business collapse or loss of a job, or in particular realising they have a drug problem in the family.
Donate & Help Family Drug Support
Your kind donation will help Family Drug Support continue to help families of people who use substances. FDS assists families to strengthen relationships and achieve positive outcomes.
FDS Insight Magazine
When you take up FDS membership, you will receive the magazine (quarterly) for the period of your membership and some other resources. Contributions to Insight do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Family Drug Support or its Board.
© Family Drug Support Australia / PO Box 7363 Leura NSW 2780 / ABN 49 081 764 258.
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![International FDS Day 2022 Media Release](/<div><strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">MEDIA RELEASE<img src="images/FDS-logo-165.png" alt="FDS" width="160" height="110" style="float: right;" /></span></strong></div>
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<div><strong>24 February 2022</strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">International Family Drug Support Day 2022</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div><em><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Families Demand Change</span></strong></em></div>
<p>Founder and CEO of Family Drug Support (FDS), Tony Trimingham OAM, who started the organisation after the death of his son Damien 25 years ago to the day, said that it was now abundantly clear that the national drug policy debate was missing a critically important voice - <strong>families</strong>.</p>
<p>Mr Trimingham added, “<em>It appears that everyone has a say on our current drug policies, including politicians, police, religious leaders and media commentators, yet families are too often left out of these discussions, despite being the people, along with the people using drugs, most affected by the current policies</em>.” </p>
<p>“In our recent Voices to be Heard Survey of over 600 family members affected by someone else’s drug and alcohol use, families were unambiguous about their deep dissatisfaction with the status quo regarding drug policy. This was especially the case with the zealousness of government to pursue the punitive responses rather than those of compassion, which are far more effective in reducing harm and exacerbating problems for families.”</p>
<p>In looking at the results of the survey, families overwhelmingly support the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Needle & syringe programs (87.5%)</li>
<li>Pill testing services (85.7%)</li>
<li>Pharmacotherapy (methadone, buprenorphine etc.) programs (86.3%)</li>
<li>Medically supervised injecting centres (83.1%)</li>
<li>Medicinal cannabis (83.9%)</li>
<li>Prescription heroin programs (74.8%)</li>
</ul>
<p>In addition, families wanted to see resources allocated to harm and demand reduction strategies by a factor of almost 7:1 when compared to law enforcement strategies.<br /><br />The reality being experienced by families from the extraordinarily harmful legal consequences of drug use resulted in families overwhelmingly supporting the legalisation of cannabis and strongly supporting the decriminalisation of all currently illicit drugs.<br /><br />Furthermore, it is also clear that families often try tough love approaches (60%) when trying to deal with drug and alcohol issues with family members but find them to be ineffective and problematic.<br /><br />As a result, families become far more in favour of strategies that encourage connection and coping (86%), with as few as 10% continuing to support tough love approaches.<br /><br />Mr Trimingham said – “<em>It is definitely time for these voices to be heard and for change to happen. Families are demanding reform and governments simply need to start listening</em>”.<br /><br />A copy of the survey report is available is <a href="fds-media/fds-media-releases/time-for-change-report-2022" class="readon"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">here.</span></a><br /><br /> Mr Trimingham also wanted to thank the many sponsors and supporters that are helping with International Family Drug Support Day and supporting families.<br /><br />For further information, please contact:</p>
<p><strong>Mr Tony Trimingham<br />Founder & CEO<br />Family Drug Support<br />0412 414 444</strong></p>){kind=link}
![IFDS Day 2021 - Media Alert - 19 Feb 2021](/<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">MEDIA ALERT</span><img src="images/FDS_logo_PNG_144.png" alt="FDS 24 7" width="144" height="100" style="margin-left: 20px; float: right;" /></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>19 February 2021</strong></p>
<div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>International Family Drug Support Day 2021</strong></span></div>
<h2><em>Families impacted by drug use gather in Parliament House for major event</em></h2>
<p>Families impacted by drug use – along with alcohol and other drug (AOD) experts and Federal politicians – will mark International Family Drug Support Day by gathering in Parliament House’s Dame Enid Lyons Alcove on Wednesday, 24 February to raise awareness about how families can be better supported when a family member experiences problems with alcohol or other drugs.</p>
<p>Family Drug Support CEO, Tony Trimingham, said families were often distraught when a family member experienced substance use issues, and that many suffered unnecessary and cruel stigma and discrimination as a result.</p>
<p><a href="images/Media_Releases/IFDS_Day_2021_Event_Media_Alert_-_19_Feb_2021.pdf" target="_blank" class="readon wf_file"><img src="media/jce/icons/pdf.png" alt="pdf" class="wf_file_icon" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: inherit;" /><span class="wf_file_text">Read more: IFDS Day 2021 - Media Alert - 19 Feb 2021.pdf</span></a></p>){kind=link}
![An FDS COVID-19 Response - 7 Sep 2020](/<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>MEDIA RELEASE<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><img src="images/FDS_logo_PNG_144.png" alt="FDS 24 7" width="144" height="100" style="margin-left: 20px; float: right;" /></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>7 September 2020</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>An FDS COVID-19 Response - National Leadership by Innovation Continues</strong> </em></span></p>
<div>Co-Founder and CEO of Family Drug Support (FDS), Tony Trimingham OAM, who started the organisation after encountering a lack of services for families following the death of his son Damien 23 years ago has announced a new innovative initiative to assist families:</div>
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<div><em>“In supporting families with alcohol and other drugs issues, FDS has been given the opportunity to gain an incredible depth of understanding and insight into the needs of family members over the past 23 years. </em><em>In recent times, the impact of COVID-19 has been particularly hard for many families as their access to our support group network, programs and trained staff have been restricted.<br /></em></div>
<p><a href="images/Media_Releases/FDS_-_Sage_Media_release_-_7_Sep_2020.pdf" target="_blank" class="readon wf_file"><img src="media/jce/icons/pdf.png" alt="pdf" class="wf_file_icon" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: inherit;" /><span class="wf_file_text">Read more: National Leadership by Innovation Continues - 7 Sep 2020.pdf</span></a></p>){kind=link}
![IFDS Day 2020 - Commonwealth Funding - 24 Feb 2020](/<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>MEDIA RELEASE<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><img src="images/FDS_logo_PNG_144.png" alt="FDS 24 7" width="144" height="100" style="margin-left: 20px; float: right;" /></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>24 February 2020</strong></p>
<div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>International Family Drug Support Day 2020</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Families Welcome Significant Announcement by the Australian Government</strong></em></span></div>
<p>In the 20 years Family Drug Support has been supporting families dealing with alcohol and other drugs we have had many ups and downs. </p>
<p>Today has been an excellent day thanks to the announcement from the Health Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt, announcing funding to allow FDS to continue our national toll-free telephone support line for families. </p>
<p>The funding will enable FDS to recruit and train volunteers in all jurisdictions. The national number - 1300 368 186 currently receives over 25,000 calls each year from families dealing with drug and alcohol issues and are answered by our trained and dedicated volunteers.<br /><br /><a href="images/Media_Releases/IFDS_Day_2020_-_Media_Release_Commonwealth_funding_-_24_February_2020.pdf" target="_blank" class="readon wf_file"><img src="media/jce/icons/pdf.png" alt="pdf" class="wf_file_icon" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: inherit;" />Read more: IFDS Day 2020 - Commonwealth funding - 24 Feb 2020.pdf</a></p>){kind=link}
![Amnesty Bin Media Release - 11 Dec 2019](/<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">MEDIA RELEASE</span><img src="images/FDS_logo_PNG_144.png" alt="FDS 24 7" width="144" height="100" style="margin-left: 20px; float: right;" /></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>11 December 2019</strong></p>
<p><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Family Drug Support Dismay at Premier’s Amnesty Bin Announcement </strong></span></em></p>
<p> Tony Trimingham, the Founder and CEO of <a href="https://dev-site.fds.org.au/">Family Drug Support </a> (FDS), on behalf of the many thousands of families FDS is in contact with, has expressed his utter dismay and disbelief that once again the NSW Premier and Government have slammed the door on life saving pill testing. </p>
<p>It is unconscionable that the extensive work and findings of the NSW Deputy Coroner, an independent evaluation of the 2nd successful trial in the ACT and the deaths of so many young people recently at festivals, can be so easily ignored. </p>
<p><a href="images/Media_Releases/FDS_-_Amnesty_Bin_Media_Release_December_-_11_Dec_2019.pdf" target="_blank" class="readon"><img src="media/jce/icons/pdf.png" alt="pdf" class="wf_file_icon" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: inherit;" /><span class="wf_file_text">Read more: Amnesty Bin Media Release - 11 Dec 2019.pdf</span></a></p>){kind=link}
![IFDS Day 2019 - Families Want Pill Testing - 7 Feb 2019](/<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">MEDIA RELEASE</span><img src="images/FDS_logo_PNG_144.png" alt="FDS 24 7" width="144" height="100" style="margin-left: 20px; float: right;" /></strong></span></p>
<p><strong>7 February 2019</strong></p>
<div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>International Family Drug Support Day 2019</strong></span></div>
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<div><strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Families Want Pill Testing</span></em></strong></div>
<p>If the ‘Just Say No’ education, Zero Tolerance or other hard-line policies had worked, we wouldn’t need to have this debate. The fact is, that after decades of these policies, people continue to take drugs, and some of them die as a result.</p>
<p>Family Drug Support (FDS) has received numerous phone calls from concerned families who have people attending music events and taking drugs - the NSW Premier’s refusal to even countenance pill testing has created fear in many families’ minds, but overall, has strengthened their views that pill testing is essential. </p>
<p><a href="images/Media_Releases/FDS_-_Media_Release_-_Families_Support_Pill_Testing_at_Music_Festivals_-_4_Jan_2019.pdf" target="_blank" class="readon wf_file"><img src="media/jce/icons/pdf.png" alt="pdf" class="wf_file_icon" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; max-width: inherit;" /><span class="wf_file_text">Read more: IFDS Day 2019 - Families Want Pill Testing - 7 Feb 2019.pdf</span></a></p>){kind=link}