East Dunbartonshire Family Support Service

We offer support to anyone in East Dunbartonshire over the age of 16 who is affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use. 

Colin McIntosh is the Family Support Development Officer for East Dunbartonshire, contact Colin directly on 07487675621, email: colin@sfad.org.uk or call our National Helpline on 08080 10 10 11

You can also find us on Twitter.

We also take referrals from all external agencies – make a referral here.

What We Offer

Support comes in a range of different sizes. In East Dunbartonshire, we offer:

• One-to-One Support
• Group Support
• CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach & Family Training)
• Access to Naloxone 
• Support to Access Bereavement Counselling

One-to-One Support

We can offer you one-to-one support if you would like to speak to someone, confidentially, about a loved one you have concerns about.

We will offer you time and space to explore the issues affecting you, let you express your thoughts and feelings, and help you to come up with ideas and solutions to move forward. Common topics include improving communication, setting boundaries with your loved one, and looking after yourself.

Each support session lasts around one hour and the frequency can be arranged to suit your needs.

Group Support

East Dunbartonshire currently offer a weekly Family Support Meeting.

This is a facilitated mutual-aid support group, where family members are invited to share with each other any difficulties they are currently experiencing and focus on ideas and solutions to find a way forward.

If you want to talk to someone before attending email eastdunfamilies@sfad.org.uk or call 0141 343 8482.

Dates and times for our groups can be found here.

CRAFT

(Community Reinforcement Approach & Family Training)

At Scottish Families, we love using a programme called CRAFT.

CRAFT is a set of 7 structured sessions and is a solution-focused, skills-based programme with a strong evidence base. It involves role-plays to help you practice new skills and has small assignments and tasks which you will be asked to do away from the sessions.

If you would like to learn more about the CRAFT principles, this is something we can deliver either 1:1 or in group settings.

Access to Naloxone

Naloxone is a drug that can reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, methadone, opium, codeine, morphine and buprenorphine. It is only effective for opioid overdoses and won’t work with any other drug.

We are now able to provide naloxone direct to anyone living in Scotland who is over the age of 16 through our ‘Click & Deliver’ take-home naloxone service, you can visit our Take Home Naloxone page to order a kit.

Support to Access Bereavement Counselling

If you have lost someone who used alcohol or drugs, our bereavement service is here to support you. We can chat and offer some advice and information. We also can put you in touch with an accredited counsellor who is local to you. Our service is free and is available across Scotland.

Our East Dunbartonshire Family Support Team:

Colin McIntosh – East Dunbartonshire Family Support Development Officer

Before working with Scottish Families, Colin worked in the recovery /rehabilitation field for nearly 8 years including 5 years with SAMH and as National Co-ordinator, Scotland with SMART recovery UK. Colin is a trained CRAFT practitioner. Colin has found that he is not only a caring individual but has the ability to motivate family members and empower them to take more control of their lives.