Alcohol & Other Drugs

SDECC provides free counselling and support for young people aged 12 -25 with problematic alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use and their families. Located in St Leonards and Manly, SDECC support young people and their families throughout the Sydney North region.

DAYSS (Drug & Alcohol Youth Support Services) A free and confidential service for 12 – 24 year olds on the Northern Beaches & Lower North Shore. Empowers young people to create positive change in their own lives and communities. DAYSS also support parents who have children effected by drugs and alcohol.

Taldumande Youth Services supports, encourages and empowers vulnerable children, young people and their families through crisis response, residential care and specialised case work. Located Northern Sydney and Northern Beaches

Ted Noffs PALM is a residential treatment program for young people (aged 13 – 18) to address serious drug and alcohol related difficulties. Operating as a therapeutic community, the three month program provides a holistic, intensive, multi-disciplinary, residential treatment program staffed by professionals specifically trained in working through trauma, challenging behaviours and complex needs. The program offers counselling, family support, group work, vocational/educational modules, living skills and recreational activities.

ADF - Australian Drug Foundation Provides extensive, up to information relating drugs, drug use, costs, effects, withdrawal and more. There’s a parenting page that includes strategies on how to talk to young people about drugs, the effects of drugs, the law, and much more.

DrinkWise Has an excellent parent information page with strategies to talk with teens along with facts, resources and more.

Family Drug Support provides up to date information on all aspects of alcohol and drug use relative to the families of alcohol and other drug users.

National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney is Australia’s leading research group in the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector. This is an excellent resource combining current research and fact sheets

SDECC’s website has excellent resources for young people and their families. The free online, interactive learning course for parents is brilliant to develop your conversation skills about substance use.

The Vaping Information Hub a cen​tral location​ to find a range of useful resources and tools designed to assist young people, parents​ and carers, and teachers and ​educators.

EPIC Conversations, Alcohol and Other Drugs with SDECC

Doing Drugs with Paul Dillon

EPIC Walks as the meetings, are inclusive spaces for parents and carers of young people who are or have been involved in criminal behaviour. Many EPIC members have travelled this path with their young person and are willing to share their hindsight and information.

EPIC Parent Program provides connection with other parents and carers of young people who are facing challenges and/or choosing risky behaviour. The EPIC Parent Program is a 5 session program that builds understanding, knowledge and confidence to better support your young person, your family and yourself. EPIC is aware of the isolation and powerlessness parents/carers experience when their teens are facing challenges. The program is peer led and offers connection, hindsight and confidence in supporting yourself and your young person.

When drug and alcohol use is problematic with your young person, be prepared to learn that change doesn’t happen overnight. Most caregivers initial reaction to this frightening situation is to find the health care professional that will fix your young persons dangerous behaviour. It’s natural, the behaviour of your child is dangerous and life threatening. Reaching out for help from health care professionals is natural and expected. Unfortunately, health care professionals cannot intervene unless the young person is willing to engage, particularly if they are over the age of 14. The EPIC community has felt this frustrating, frightening and extremely stressful situation. Lean on us.

At this point, the EPIC coping strategy is, take a breath. Educate yourself. Connect with others. Connect with the parents of your young person’s friends if you can, connect with the the friends of your young person. Let them know you are always there and available. 95% of the time your young person matures enough to see their friends getting legal jobs, drivers licences and entering meaningful relationships. They realise that adulthood brings real consequences (not just the boundaries that limit data or screen time or rules about not bongs in the house!). Eventually, most realise that legal money, friendship, family are what life is about.

EPIC members have learnt that knowledge, connections with others parents, connections with helpful organisations and your loving support of your young person will attribute to keeping them safe and ready for change. Or suggestion is, do the SDECC Paving Ways course if you have the opportunity, get Youth Mental Health First Aid trained as soon as you can, connect with other parents, connect with the friends of your young person and importantly, give yourself what you need to be you. LEAN ON US.

The young person that you love is still there. They are going through a really rough patch. You might need to stop drinking for a while (if you drink), hide your valuables, reassess your lifestyle, just for now. The crazy thing is, the situation that you are in is a building block to a better you. Lean on others who have been there. It helps. We will never judge or give advice. We can let you know how it was for us. How we coped. Who helped. Where we are now. Please call us or join our walks. It is a great, safe space to just be.