AN IPSWICH charity that provides care and advice to those in the grips of drug addiction is set to expand its service to include support for family and carers.

AN IPSWICH charity that provides care and advice to those in the grips of drug addiction is set to expand its service to include support for family and carers.

The Iceni Project in Fore Street will launch its latest venture next month after receiving backing from the borough council.

The new service will offer support and advice to help families, partners or carers cope when a loved one is suffering from substance misuse.

Patrick Palmer, co-founder of the Iceni Project, said he was delighted to be able to offer more help to the wider community.

“We used to do it when we first started 10 years ago but because of space and funding we had to stop,” he said.

“However, we have felt for some time that families are often over looked throughout this struggle.

“They are left unsupported but they can have an enormous effect on the recovery process.

“We will be offering advice and support for any family member, partner or carer who is looking after someone affected by a substance misuse issue.”

He said the new service - which will launch on April 7 - has received funding from Ipswich Borough Council.

“All staff are professionally trained to deal with a whole range of issues,” he added. “People can drop in but ideally it would probably be best to phone first to make an appointment.”

Mr Palmer said the charity would also be moving premises in the middle of May to Foundation Street, in the building that used to belong to the probation service.

He said this - together with more Government money - would allow them to resume their treatment program for cannabis dependency.

“We had to terminate that and withdraw our treatment because of money,” he said. “But now we have managed to get the go ahead to restart the service when we move premises.

“We had seen the number of cannabis users increase but we were told the money had to be used to help with class A drug abuse. However that has now changed and we can provide a programme specifically for cannabis users.”

The first support session will be held between 5pm and 9pm on April 7. Anyone who would like to go along can contact 01473 214006.

Have you been affected by drug addiction? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.