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A Renfrew family that for years has supported a loved one struggling with addiction has turned their experience into an opportunity to help others.
Marci Joyce and her mom Margi Bond know all too well how difficult it can be to watch a loved one face these challenges. Now, Marci is leading SMART Family and Friends, a monthly support group for those with loved ones who are struggling with addiction.
Marci has been on the advisory committee with Addiction Treatment Services (ATS), which is run through Renfrew Victoria Hospital, for the past 14 years. She explains that ATS treats individuals who are struggling with substance use and other addictions but also their family members. The new group is run with the support of ATS.
Marci says the need for supports like this group is growing.
Marci said she really likes the SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) recovery method and she has completed the training and certification needed to lead the group. It’s a self-empowering approach, she said.
The idea of a group setting can be intimidating, people are shy or afraid to talk, but Marci says she encourages anyone facing challenges to come check it out.
By being able to share with others who really understand what you’re going through you can leave feeling a bit better. By helping each other you’re helping yourself, said Marci.
When it comes to their loved one, they’ve tried every kind of approach imaginable. Both have built their strength and coping abilities up over the years.
Margi agrees, noting they’ve learned a lot along the way and now they can help others.
She‘s felt and seen first-hand how supporting a loved one with addiction can affect a person.
Attendance at the Wednesday meetings has been slowly growing and both Marci and Margi want to get the word out to those who might benefit from the group. Margi, well-known locally for her elite culinary skills, provides snacks for the meeting, a big draw in its own right. There’s no commitment to attend, people can come as little or as often as they like.
Marci noted that there are plenty of community resources, as well as a number of other great groups available to support those struggling with addiction and their families and she encourages individuals to choose the one that suits them best.
SMART Family and Friends meets the third Wednesday of each month at the ATS offices at 510 Raglan St. South, from 5:30-7 p.m. More information is available through ATS.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)