The focus is on the individual, and more importantly young people in their late teens or early to mid 20s, who are seen out enjoying the night life and sometimes over indulging.

However, substance abuse does not stop with the individual and it is not restricted to youth.

To help curb the problem of addiction in Newcastle counselling sessions will start at The Salvation Army’s The Ark in Wickham tonight.

It is part of the Family Recovery and Reconcil-iation program, which was piloted in Lake Mac-quarie a year ago, to support families and individuals affected by addiction.

A need for group counselling in Newcastle was recognised after a public meeting in March when 32 people turned up to show their support.

Fourteen people have already registered for counselling sessions.

The program’s community development worker Maria Knipe said it was a good start to a problem that affected more than just youth.

“The curfew (in Newcastle pubs and clubs) is a good start for people in that age group but the problem is much bigger than that.”

Ms Knipe said more services were needed for children of parents with addiction problems and more awareness programs were needed in schools to show children its impact.

She sees 45 families a week in Belmont, Bonnells Bay and Newcastle, who have a loved one affected by substance abuse.

But she said there were more people who needed help because ‘substance abuse is not a personal disease, it is a family disease’.

“When people abuse substances they get into a ‘self mode’; they do not realise the effect it has on their family and friends.”

Sadly this $124,000 a year program, funded by NSW Department of Community Services, and administered by Lake Macquarie and Newcastle councils, is only funded until the end of 2009.

Ms Knipe has applied for the state funding but said she would not know until the end of the year if the program would continue.

She said it was too early to statistically see the impact of the program but there were obvious signs that it was working.

Counselling sessions will be held tonight at The Ark and Mondays, 9am-5pm; group sessions Wednesday night, 7-9pm; and Wednesdays, 1.30-3.30pm at the Salvation Army, Hamilton.

There are also counselling sessions at Belmont and Bonnells Bay.

The Family Recovery and Reconciliation program offers one-on-one counselling, mediation, welfare support, home visits and group counselling sessions.

For more information phone 4973 1735.