The fact that women are sitting around a table discussing their alcohol addiction problems already shows they have begun their recovery process.

Alcohol addiction is a serious disease which can seriously damage not only the lives of those directly involved but also close family members who need to understand how to handle the situation.

The Impact of Alcohol programme delivered through Fermanagh New Horizons has helped many of these women restructure their lives again, something they never thought possible during their depths of despair.

In this week’s Impartial Reporter, we document a number of case studies where one mother had to put her sons into care until she had attended rehabilitation and another who had attempted suicide because of her deep depression while abusing alcohol.

The concoction of alcohol dependency and mental illness must be handled sensitively and skilled counsellors are required to show the addict the way ahead.

During a discussion around a table at one of their weekly Time Out sessions some of these women opened their hearts to illustrate the low point in their lives. It was extremely humbling to hear hear their views on how their lives were changed. But with excellent therapy, they have been given back their self esteem and self confidence again.

They now have goals which many of us take for granted but for them are all they wish for. Perhaps simple things such as a hug from a grandchild.

Courses such as these give empowerment back to the women and helps them realise they have a role to play in society. One of them has already said she wants to talk to similar groups to help others recover in the way she has.

This positive message must be encouraged but it also requires the support of their family members, their friends and all those in society around them to accept them as one of them again.