Napier Community Walk-In will be invaluable for drug addicts and their families: organisers

Maraenui addict drop-in session co-organiser Dave Blackley at a session on Saturday. Photo/Warren Buckland

A walk-in centre for drug addicts and their families will be invaluable in Hawke's Bay, organisers say.

The Napier Community Walk-In centre, which operates on Saturdays at the Maraenui Community House, first opened on June 3.

The sessions were started by former addicts Chris Jenkins, Dave Blackley, Callan Jennings, Tracey Benson and Cliff Tarau as a place for addicts and their families to receive support without judgment.

Mr Blackley said they decided to create the drop-in sessions because there had been a lot of talk through hui and other meetings about drug problems in Hawke's Bay but more needed to be done.

"It's time to stop talking and start doing."

Their project was unique and extremely important for Hawke's Bay because it offered somewhere for families to go, he said.

"There's not a lot of support for families out there.

"We understand what the addict is going through and how families can best help them."

Last Saturday's session was only the second since opening and although it had been quiet people would start coming through word of mouth, Mr Blackley said.

"We're not expecting people to be flooding through the doors."

Addicts and families would be able to meet others in recovery through the sessions who were willing to support them throughout their journey, he said.

"We can all support them for as long as they need, recovery is a lifetime thing."

Ms Benson said anyone in the community struggling with addiction or their families could come along to the sessions without feeling ashamed.

"We are here to support people without judgment."

One of the most important parts of recovery was an addict's connections to their family, friends, community and society, she said.

Mr Jennings said families who had already come along to the sessions had found it encouraging.

"It's about giving them a bit of help so they know they're not alone in their struggles with whanau members struggling with addiction."

Mr Jenkins said he had been amazed by the support for the walk-in from others in the community, with people making food for the sessions.

He said there was a gap in the system with addicts being taken out of the community for treatment then put back into the same environment without a lot of community support.

"To help them we need to start with the community and families.

"This is unique in that it caters for the families as well as addicts which is a really important area for us."

Anyone with a family member struggling with addiction needed to know that keeping lines of connection open with the addict was important.

"Also love and support them but have boundaries, look out for windows of opportunity.

"There are always times of desperation where you can plant a seed."

The walk-in sessions are held every Saturday, from 10am-2pm, at the Maraenui Community House, 3 Longfellow Ave, Napier.

The Maraenui Community House was gifted to Tu Tangata Maraenui by Ahuriri District Health Trust this year.