“My life and outlook has improved 100%. SPODA is a wonderful organisation without their help I would be struggling emotionally."


What We Do

How is Support Delivered - Types of Support

SPODA ia a client-centred agency and it aims to support people in various ways that is suited to their needs, as best as possible. Support can be received by means of:
  • Telephone support
  • 1:1 meetings either at your home, SPODA’s premises or in a booked room within a GP’s surgery – wherever you feel is safest and most comfortable
  • Group meetings – where other family members and carers meet to talk openly (if they wish) about various issues
  • Advocacy
  • Days Out - Allowing carers to take a break
  • Educational Sessions - e.g. drugs awareness
Click on link below for:
Chesterfield Support Group Dates for 2012


How Can SPODA Support You?

Removing the Isolation - A listening ear

Many people who suffer as a result of someone else’s substance use, often do so in silence – after all, it is not usually something that is discussed with others as we know there is a real stigma around illicit substance use – this can include prescribed medication. Furthermore, the thought of calling a helpline and off-loading your story to a stranger can be quite daunting – we at SPODA know this all too well.

We will listen to your concerns in a non-judgemental way which will hopefully make you feel that you have been fully heard and acknowledged. This will go some way towards removing the isolation you might feel in your current situation.

Reducing Fears - Dispelling the facts from the myths

Most of our fears are usually born from lack of knowledge about substances and all that is associated with it. Television, films the media and what we may be told by others, including the substance user, may actually be quite unhelpful in raising fears and anxieties. Receiving up-to-date, accurate information and being able to talk freely without the added worry of feeling ‘stupid’ is a great way in making us feeling less helpless about our situation. Your fears can now be addressed and mainly overcome through gaining further insight into the substance users’ world.


Regaining Control - Making sense of your situation

Challenging the substance user about her/his drugs use can be a challenge in itself, after all we may think “They are using – so they must be the expert – so what they say must be true” which can leave you feeling powerless in dealing with things. However, understanding the 6 stages within the Cycle of Change (a useful theory about addiction) can help us to make sense of where the user is in relation to wanting to change. Knowing at what point the user is can help you to identify what you can do to motivate the user to change their behaviour – however small to begin with.

Click here to see the 'Cycle of Change'...


“We have been educated in all aspects of drugs and their effects together with being given overdose resuscitation training”



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