Published: Wednesday, 5th November, 2008 12:30
Major funding boost for drug support group
By Iain Robertson
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LADA's Agnes Douglas with confirmation of the grant, watched by Jackie Gallacher.
LOCALS Against Drug Abuse (LADA) – Alloa’s pioneering support group for young people with drug and alcohol addiction issues and their families – has received a major funding boost from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Scotland.
The Trust’s Main Grants Programme has given LADA £56,000 to help fund staff salaries for the next year and a half.
It comes on top of an earlier award of £10,000 from the Trust’s Bridging the Gap Fund that helped LADA bridge a gap of their own, the move into new premises in Primrose Street in Alloa.
Project manager Agnes Douglas said, “We are hugely grateful to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their continued support.
“We are one of the few organisations which work on the basis that you have to support the whole family when one member has an issue with drugs, alcohol or substance abuse.
“It’s not enough to focus on the person, be it boy girl, young man or young woman, because inevitably their addiction issues impact on the whole family.
“And to resolve them they need the support of their family, which means family members have to understand, and be willing to give that support.”
LADA was launched 11 years ago when Agnes and a group of her friends became so incensed that their children were being exposed to drugs, they sent a message out to the dealers that they would not stand by and silently watch as their children were drawn ever deeper into the chaos of addiction.
Agnes added, “You do things, and react in certain ways when the hurt is very raw, but over the years we have learned there are other and more effective ways to tackle these issues.
“One of the keys to our success is that our team have all been there, and experienced these issues first hand. So the people that come to us know we understand the problems they face, and no matter how chaotic their lifestyles, they are never disrespectful to our staff.”
Agnes works with a team of four staff and six volunteers that are backed up by a management committee and advisors.
LADA have a range of family support services, including a 24 hour help-line, a drop-in service, family support group, a woman’s group, housing support and alternative therapies.
Joe Thomas, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said, “LADA is one of those organisations that make you feel quite humble when you realise how much effort they put into supporting those with addiction problems in the local community.
“The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is proud to have been able to award them a grant which will help pay some of their salaries, and so enable the project to go from strength to strength.
“We wish them every success in the future.”
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