Suchtselbsthilfe im Austausch

The educational work of the with the associations of addiction self-help has existed for many years and many projects and activities have become routine. There is a lack of impulses and ideas, especially for the new beginning after the Corona break. The challenges of the current situation in addiction Self-help with its new manifestations require contemporary solutions. The need to expand one's own knowledge and gain new perspectives was palpable in the addiction self-help associations. The exchange with people who are also active in addiction self-help was addressed. Using practical examples at other locations, new experiences could be gained for their own projects.

The aim was to achieve an exchange with the partner organisation about educational offers in the field of addiction, self-help and abstinence work. In the project, participants from the organizational level, pedagogical and volunteer staff, as well as those affected and their relatives who are already in a group should participate. The transition between the two groups is fluid, and all processes should be characterized by a bottom-up process. An opening for the exchange of new trends in order to be attractive for those affected with our offers. New trends are the contemporary appeal to the younger generation or polytoxicomania.

The online organizational meetings served to get to know the participants and the partner organizations. The wishes and needs of all participants were exchanged. During the learning stay in Sweden, the participants got to know the practice of the Swedish organization. Addiction self-help groups invited people to exchange, the concepts were exchanged and discussed. The comprehensive commitment to social work was made clear, eg. work with relatives, prevention in childhood, social enterprises in the sobriety movement and the Centre for Adult Education Tollare for social pedagogues with a focus on addiction. Best practice examples, were presented and reflected. Another project was the "Social Work Forum", a camp for the whole family. During the learning stay in Germany, in addition to active groups, the specialist clinic Nettetal and others were presented as best practice examples and concepts were exchanged and discussed. A highlight under the motto: "Same goals - different systems" was the exchange with representatives of politics and committees of addiction self-help.

The participants of the project were impressed by each other's work and approach. Awareness was raised of the various social conditions under which addiction self-help is carried out. Impulses for the work were taken away in particular by the best practice. The first implementations have already taken place. The expert committee of the addiction self-help associations has made a note of the topic of "work with relatives" as a task for the next meetings. The first seminars on the topic are planned for 2024. Looking at the topic of addiction in the family systemically, as it is practiced in Sweden in addiction self-help, has left its mark. The exchange across national borders was seen as a benefit by all participants. Initial ideas for further exchange opportunities have been developed. The expert committee, the organisational managers in Germany and Sweden and the as the representative of the training measures were tasked with the concrete implementation.