Drugs, alcohol… a weekend for parents who cope.

Mary said to Estelle: “I choose the small and the weak for my glory”.

On the hill of Besses, above Pellevoisin, in a former orphanage founded in Estelle’s time, for 35 years some brothers of Saint John, with the help of assistants, volunteers and health professionals, have been supporting day after day the path of liberation of young adult addicts. A struggle that also involves accompanying parents who find themselves at a loss.

The Saint Jean Espérance association proposed to parents in this situation to meet for a weekend, on 4 and 5 March, in order to discuss what they are experiencing and how they position themselves as parents with regard to their child’s addiction.

On this occasion, the film “Mon enfant chéri”, directed by Nicolas Bourgoin and Mélissa Theuriau, which gives a voice to the parents of children who have fallen into addiction, was screened.

Florence Varaigne, director of Saint-Jean Espérance, reports on the weekend:

“About forty parents from all over France met for a weekend of meetings. They were able to share their experiences as parents of addicts. Brother Eric spoke about addiction and how as a parent they could accompany their child.

A psychiatrist and therapist, Dr Beligné, gave an overview of the work he is doing with several young people from St Jean Esperance.

A former student of St Jean Esperance gave his testimony on his road to recovery.

The evening was spent watching the documentary “Mon enfant chéri” by Nicolas Bourgouin.

On Sunday, the parents’ support project entitled “Parents of Addicts Anonymous” was officially launched by the President of the association Yves Anthonioz. This programme aims to develop a network of links between parents of addicts so that they can support each other by means of videoconferences or meetings.

To finish this WE, Father Eric sent us on mission and gave a special blessing to the actors of the self-help associations.