WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital will begin offering Families Strong, a free, online support group for families and friends of someone who is dealing with a substance use disorder.
Addiction creates an impact on the entire family. This new program centers on the importance of family members and friends connecting with others who are facing the same problems. Families Strong is a resource just for family members and friends, regardless of their loved ones desire to seek help.
Trained Families Strong leaders will be instrumental in bringing this valuable resource to the community. Through the support group, the Families Strong program will focus on helping family members and friends develop self-care, building social supports, and learning effective motivational strategies for interacting with a loved one with addiction.
Families Strong provides a safe, judgement free place for family members and loved ones to learn how to minimize the negative effects of a person’s substance use. A Families Strong participant from West Virginia has said, “I would highly recommend attending the Families Strong Group. [It] provided me with the support and tools to navigate my journey through my loved one’s substance use disorder.”
Groups meet weekly for nine weeks, up to 2 hours per group, using a remote format that allow individuals to participate from the comfort of home. Participants earn $50.00 for their participation in the group.
For more information, please contact the Preventive Medicine Department at Potomac Valley Hospital at 304-597-3702 or 304-597-3566. Those interested in participating in the support groups can register by going to www.FamiliesStrongWV.com.