In AV’s alcohol and other drugs (AOD) programs, highly qualified clinicians and case workers provide young people and their families grappling with the impacts of substance use.
From intake and assessment through to counselling and recovery, AV’s AOD workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with clients, providing education around substance use to help them improve their safety, reduce harms, and make the changes needed to heal.
The LYFT (Linking Youth and Families Together) program is a holistic service that offers social and educational support and places a high priority on the role of the young person’s family in the recovery process. LYFT practitioners like Joel Morrison support our young clients as they work through the issues that have contributed to their substance use.
Clients like Hannah*, who was placed in out-of-home care after losing her mother to an opioid overdose.
The trauma Hannah had experienced from such a young age had a lasting impact on her, and when she first engaged with LYFT, her substance use was putting her at high risk of harm. Joel drove her to several detox and rehab facilities and supported her through withdrawals, court appearances, and even an admission to the emergency department, until she was able to cease her substance use.
But their connection didn’t end there. Joel helped Hannah enrol in a traffic management course and get a job in the industry. This proved to be a springboard to even bigger and better things, and Hannah is now training to be a paramedic. She hopes to give back to the community by caring for other vulnerable people in their hour of need.
It takes time and patience to form a trusting connection with young people like Hannah, especially if they have had negative experiences with other services. AOD clients often have complex needs, so clinicians tailor their approach, referring young people to other services such as mental health and family violence as required. The aim is to reduce harm and prevent relapses, while also safely reconnecting and reunifying families who have been seriously affected by substance use.
LYFT practitioners meet their clients where they are at, often conducting sessions outdoors or in places the young people feel comfortable. “On an average day, you’ll find LYFT clinicians attending detox admissions with young people, conducting family sessions in the home, and meeting with people in outdoor spaces where they feel safe on their terms,” said Joel “We also run groups within schools and provide secondary consults with other professionals.”
AV’s AOD team works closely with mental health organisations and the youth justice sector, and partners with local community organisations and sporting clubs to create a supportive environment around young people and remove barriers to recovery. Working on the ground with other frontline services puts the LYFT team in an excellent position to plan preventative programs based on the trends they’re noticing in the community, and they’re always looking for ways to expand their therapeutic services to improve outcomes for young people, based on the best evidence from around Australia and overseas. They’ve even welcomed a four-legged member into the team – therapy dog Zuri, who helped Hannah through some of her darkest times.
When she was asked to give feedback about the impact LFYT has had on her life, Hannah didn’t hold back. “You saved my life at least three times,” she said. “You were always there. I always had someone to talk to.”
It’s stories like Hannah’s than inspire AV’s AOD clinicians to continue innovating and improving their practice, so they can provide the best possible support to young people and families on their healing journey.
