Alcohol Help

Today, Sunday 29th June 2008, physicians and former patients from the UK and the rest of Europe are gathering to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Castle Craig Hospital, the UK’s largest hospital for the treatment of addictions.

The reunion will begin with a morning session on ‘Addiction Treatment: How to change the brain’ addressed by two eminent psychiatrists, Dr. Peter Geerlings, former Medical Director of The Jellinek in Amsterdam and Dr. Geert Dom, Head of Addiction, Psychiatric Centre Alexian Brothers, Belgium. After an electrifying therapeutic drumming session, the afternoon session will be introduced by the International Coordinator for Narcotics Anonymous who will speak together with six former patients about their experiences in recovery, after leaving Castle Craig.

“The annual reunion is always an inspirational occasion where hundreds of former patients return to Castle Craig to talk about their new alcohol and drug free lives”, said Peter McCann, Castle Craig Chairman. “Over the last twenty years, attendance at the reunion has grown rapidly and this year we are anticipating around 600 attendees. Substance misuse is one of the UK’s major problems and Castle Craig plays an important role in influencing public awareness that people who are addicted do recover and go on to lead abstinent and fulfilled lives.”

About Castle Craig

Located in the Borders of Scotland, Castle Craig Hospital opened in 1988 and has since helped over 7,000 patients on the road to recovery from their addictions. The treatment at Castle Craig is based on the Minnesota Model and promotes The 12 Step Programme as a way of recovery from alcohol and drug dependence. A skilled, multidisciplinary team provides medical and psychiatric care, detoxification and relapse prevention.

Castle Craig is a major contractor to the National Health Service and is recognised by the major medical insurers in the U.K. While Castle Craig is a national resource for the people of Scotland, many insurance companies from other countries also fund the treatment. www.castlecraig.co.uk

Alcohol and Drug Addiction in the UK
In the UK, the number of alcohol-related deaths more than doubled from 4,144 in 1991 to 8,758 in 20061. The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England estimates that up to 22,000 premature deaths per year are associated in some way with alcohol misuse2. In 2004, the Government estimated that alcohol misuse costs the health service in England between £1.4 and £1.7 billion per year2. Alcohol problems cost Scotland an estimated £2.25 billion per year in NHS, social work, police, emergency services, and the wider economic and human costs3. It is estimated that in England there are up to 1.3m children affected by parental alcohol problems4 and in Scotland there are 100,000 children in Scotland are living with a problem drinking parents.

Castle Craig Hospital

The Selhurst Alcohol Rehab Clinic: Farnborough
The Selhurst Clinic provides alcohol rehabilitation in a residential setting.

About us:

The Ayurva Selhurst Clinic in Farnborough Hampshire provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation in a unique residential setting. We also specialise in the treatment of other types of addictions. From detox through to aftercare, our treatments use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). We can also treat drug addiction and alcohol addiction in clients who may have other issues. If you have been to rehab before, our unique approach will provide a welcome difference.

The Rehabilitation Clinic in Farnborough, Hants is only 20 miles from Central London and is a truly residential rehabilitation unit that uses separate private houses to accommodate its clients. All of the houses have staff cover, providing 24/7 care for everyone that chooses to stay with us. Whether it is only a detoxification that you need or our 6 or 12 week programme, please call our trained staff now for an immediate confidential discussion.

We aim to provide effective drug and alcohol rehab and other addiction treatments in a safe and supportive environment that enables each client to successfully address the causes of their addiction.

Treatments at the Ayurva Selhurst Clinic

The main treatment approaches that Ayurva undertake in the treatment of our clients Includes:

* Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) groups using the ADAPT’s© treatment programme backed up by a relapse prevention programme.
* Counselling on an individual and group basis.
* Psychotherapy on an individual and group basis.
* Yoga and Music Therapy for stress management and relaxation.
* Clinical Assessments and Consultations by either a GP or Consultant.
* Treatment for drug addiction including cocaine, crack and heroin.
* Treatment for alcohol addiction.
* Detox programmes.

Full Drug and Alcohol Detox Facilities

The Ayurva Selhurst Clinic has full detoxification capabilities for both alcohol and drugs. We ensure the safety and wellbeing of each client by providing a full medical examination by our in-house doctor on arrival.

Where required, clients are prescribed a detoxification regime based on their individual needs overseen by fully trained staff.

Accommodation at the Ayurva Selhurst Rehab Clinic

Ayurva currently has a number of houses providing quality accomodation for our clients. These houses are run as community houses with full-time cover provided by a member of staff. We believe that successful treatment does not take place just in the clinic but also within the clients’ private lives.

The houses provide the clients with a safe, structured recovery supported both by using peer support and a designated therapist.

Contact Details:

The Selhurst Alcohol Rehab Clinic
84 Alexandra Road
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 6DD

Telephone: 0845 0945 852

Sefton Park, Weston-super-Mare
Sefton Park is a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre and Therapeutic Community

About us:

Sefton Park is a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre, founded to help people who have made a conscious decision to free themselves from drug and alcohol addiction.

Our aim is to provide addiction treatment and support, within a Therapeutic Community, that will enable individuals to lead valued and fulfilled lives free from all forms of substance dependency.

The programme is abstinence based and specifically designed to assist individuals in addressing their addictions and underlying problems and subsequently be in a position to lead a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle

Sefton Park is a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre and Therapeutic Community, founded to help people who have made a conscious decision to free themselves from their addiction by providing an abstinence-based programme.

What’s the programme?

The programme is of six months duration and requires the individual to explore past and present issues, looking deeply into how these relate to the cycle of addiction and connected behaviour.

We believe that by understanding these issues and by challenging negative attitudes, an individual may gain the insight they need to make informed lifestyle choices.

We aim to achieve this by a process of integration and full involvement of clients in the Therapeutic Community of Sefton Park. We wish to encourage open and effective contact for everyone who engages with Sefton Park , so that lasting relationships may develop based on a greater awareness about who we are, what we do and the way in which we help our clients address the issues of addiction.

What we offer: Group therapy; One-to-one counselling sessions; Individual care programmes; Educational programmes; Family & specialist counselling service; Safe and comfortable on-site accommodation; Access to local medical & legal services; 24-hour staff support; Liaison with local services; Post-programme local contact and support; Aftercare service

The Treatment

The ethos of the programme is founded upon an integrative approach to individual client needs within the framework of a Therapeutic Community.

The Programme draws upon many established disciplines of therapy where they are appropriate to the client, for example: Person Centred Therapy; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Solution Focussed Therapy; Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy

The Group holds meetings each weekday morning and afternoon and clients are required to attend and participate.

One-to-one counselling sessions are held each week with each client’s key-worker.

We explain the 12-step model and clients are required to attend Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Meetings on a twice-weekly basis.

Sefton Park recognises the individual needs of each client and will design care-plans to address this.

While we acknowledge individuality and uniqueness, we expect our clients to follow the guidelines in place that foster and maintain the Therapeutic Community.

Our aim is to create the optimal environment that encourages our clients to understand and address their issues.

Why Sefton Park works

The Sefton Park programme works because clients who have a real willingness to change and a serious commitment to fully participate can be helped to achieve their objectives.

We help those who have made a conscious decision to free themselves from their addiction and those who wish to address their drug and alcohol addiction by accepting the goal of complete abstinence.

The six-month programme is very demanding of the individual and of the group as a whole. It appears to produce better outcomes for those who truly engage in the process and commit to the programme methodology over an extended period.

The Therapeutic Community is fundamental to the workings of the rehabilitation process. Each client receives support from the community and in this way assists each member of the community in their rehabilitation.

Each client must follow the guidelines laid down for the well being of the Therapeutic Community and accept responsibility for their own actions.

Contact Details:

Sefton Park
10 Royal Crescent
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 2AX

Telephone: 01934 626371

The link between Father’s Day and alcohol is inescapable. At this time of year, greetings card shelves groan with cards depicting foaming pints of ale and robust glasses of red wine, pushing the message that drinking is both a manly pursuit and an essential part of Father’s Day celebrations.

It’s a great time of year for drinks manufacturers, too. In the run-up to Father’s Day, some £14 million is spent on spirit brands in the UK, with whisky the number one alcoholic gift for men over the age of 35, according to figures from industry giant Diageo.

But is an alcohol-fuelled Father’s Day really beneficial for family life? Sue Allchurch, director of the Linwood Group, thinks not: "When you’ve seen first-hand the damage an alcoholic father does to himself and his family, then this link between alcohol and Father’s Day takes on a more disturbing dimension," she says.

"The families of alcoholic fathers frequently experience disruption of household routine, economic hardship and emotional and physical abuse as a result of the father’s drink problem - these are hardly things to celebrate or to hold up as part of responsible fatherly behaviour," she says, adding that children of alcoholics are more likely to grow up to develop drinking problems of their own.

Unfortunately, the influence of societal norms means that even dads with the best intentions to protect, support and care for their families can run into trouble with alcohol.

A recent study by Alcohol Concern found that male problem drinking is largely fuelled by Western cultural values. "In societies where most people drink, it is especially difficult for men to be abstainers because it is an image linked to being weak," said Frank Soodeen of Alcohol Concern. "Alcohol has economic and symbolic value. It functions as a symbol of earning power and social exchange and is significant as an expression of gender identity and position within society, peer groups and families."

The same pressures can make it difficult for fathers who drink too much to admit to their families that they have a problem with alcohol, or even to themselves, says Allchurch. But families can do much to help, she says, and a key first step is to stop colluding in a father’s drinking and to stop excusing and covering up for it.

Father’s Day may be a good time to start, she suggests. "Avoid buying alcohol as a gift or even an alcohol-themed card. A strong family that takes positive action and supports the drinker can go a long way to getting them into recovery and show their true appreciation for him as a father."

Linwood Manor

Drugsline: Ilford
We operate a freephone crisis & support line, drop-in centre & many other services

About us:

Drugsline sees the importance of preventative education and places great emphasis on drugs and alcohol awareness education. A major part of our work is a unique schools outreach education programme, openly discussing the reality of addiction and drug abuse with young people and teenagers.

We operate a freephone crisis & support line and drop-in centre as the first point of contact.

A registered charity since 1998, Drugsline is managed by an Executive Committee and staffed by a team of professionals led by our Executive Director.

Drugsline’s team of outreach educators, qualified professional counsellors and trained volunteers are dedicated to providing services are of highest quality.

Drugsline is an active member of the Redbridge Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).
Our service is non-judgmental, completely confidential and open to all.

Drugsline offers the following services:

A Crisis & Support Line
Crisis Intervention
Crisis & Support Centre
One-to-One Counselling
Family Counselling
Self-Help Groups & Aftercare
Specialised Drugs Education
Parents’ Evenings
Mentoring Groups

How can Drugsline help me?

Our trained volunteers are non-judgmental and can provide vital help and support if you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. We can also help with other addictions, such as gambling or over-eating.

We can provide support, help and information to parents, grandparents, carers, partners and children of those with drug and alcohol problems.

Often being able to talk to someone openly and honestly about the effects of your own drug or alcohol addiction or the behaviour of someone who’s addiction is affecting you, can help you to put things into perspective. It can sometimes be very difficult to talk about your feelings and concerns with friends or family members. To speak openly with someone who understands and does not make any judgements can be invaluable.

Sometimes, trying to understand the different types of services and treatments that are around for people who have addictions can be hard, especially when you are trying to come to terms with accepting that you or someone you love is addicted. Our telephone counsellors can help you to understand where you might get the further help and support that you or your loved one may need.

You can call our freephone drugs helpline on 0808 1 606 606.

Registered Charity Number 1067573

Contact Details:

Drugsline
395 Eastern Avenue
Gants Hill
Ilford
Essex
IG6 1EB

Telephone: 0808 1 606 606

Over two-thirds of Britons believe that life would be less enjoyable without alcohol. In a recent survey of clients and their families conducted by Linwood Group, 70 per cent felt that alcohol was vital to socialising, relaxing, celebrating — or simply getting a good night’s sleep.

Significantly, most believed this wasn’t a problem, even those whose family members are problem drinkers.

So are we turning a blind eye to the risk of alcoholism and its effects? Linwood Group research director Sue Allchurch thinks so. "Drinking has become so commonplace in our society that even those who are not physically addicted are mentally dependent on alcohol and horrified by the thought of not drinking," she says.

In fact, she says, problem drinking is far more widespread than official statistics suggest: "If the definition of a problem drinker is taken as someone who drinks to alter their mood on a regular basis, our research suggests that most people can be classified as problem drinkers."

"Anyone who drinks daily is a problem drinker, even if they just have one or two drinks a day, because they are dependent on a mind-altering substance. These people don’t necessarily go over the limit and they build up a tolerance which means they feel perfectly OK and can avoid acknowledging what’s really going on with their mental and physical health."

Allchurch believes that using alcohol as a social crutch over a long period of time is the main cause behind the recent increase that she has seen in older alcoholics seeking treatment. "We’re getting more middle-aged, middle-class, professional people who have crossed over into alcohol dependency in their forties and older," she says.

Alcohol, it seems, is our nation’s socially acceptable legal drug of choice. But it’s worth bearing in mind that people who don’t drink at a social event can be confident that they won’t do or say anything inappropriate, feel much better than their boozy counterparts the next day, and perhaps most importantly, can remember what a good time they had.

So why not consider going alcohol-free at your next social engagement? It could give you some valuable insight into the effects of alcohol on you, your friends and your family - and if you find the prospect of a sober evening impossible, maybe it’s time to take a harder look at your relationship with alcohol.

Linwood Manor

In response to the government’s pledge to provide additional money for areas with the highest rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions, Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern says:

"Unskilled men are between 10 and 20 times more likely to die from alcohol-related causes than those with a professional background. The Department of Health’s decision to place alcohol at the heart of its new drive against health inequalities is therefore the right one to have taken, and we support any measures that bring down the number of hospital admissions caused by alcohol misuse.

We are also encouraged by the Secretary of State’s timely support for alcohol treatment. The new national support team he announced today must persuade PCTs to invest more in structured treatment if it is to succeed. However, Whitehall also needs to ensure that there is further money available where needed to allow trusts to narrow the gap between the large number of people who need alcohol treatment and the limited number of spaces on treatment programmes. Otherwise local areas will be unable to meet worthy targets to improve everyone’s health."

Alcohol Concern

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services, Weston-super-Mare
Abstinence based treatment providing a safe environment for clients to address their alcoholism.

About us:

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services offers a tier four quasi-residential rehabilitation programme, in addition to various other packages. All our services are of the highest standard and treatment approaches are informed by current research on effectiveness and feedback from both service users and commissioners. Treatment is delivered through group therapy, individual counselling, lectures and other activities designed to support the therapeutic process.

We believe that the therapeutic alliance is the most fundamental element in ensuring that clients engage with and truly benefit from this service. Our professional, friendly and highly experienced staff are committed to ensuring effective service provision for all our clients and work within the bounds of ethical practice at all times.

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services was founded with the aim that the needs of both service users and commissioners will be met by a service that is both cost effective and provides the highest standard of care to those accessing its services.

We first opened our doors in December 2003, and since that time we are proud to announce that 74% of our service users have completed treatment drug free. Our founder envisioned a project that would provide quality services to individuals whose needs were not being met by existing service providers.

We believe that the practice of placing individuals in residential rehabilitation units, where they are treated and housed within a single property, can, in some cases, serve to further isolate and alienate the individual from mainstream society and increase the institutionalisation and social exclusion that many of our service users have experienced.

The programme at Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services is abstinence based and is designed to address both the substance misuse issue and other related issues that are impacting negatively on the client’s life.

We believe that once the immediate effects of substance misuse are overcome, the underlying issues that often predate the use of chemicals start to come to the surface. Often clients have few skills in managing their emotional reactions to life events or interpersonal relationships; find it difficult to manage their anger appropriately; fail to recognise that their thinking and cognitive processes are not helpful and are not producing the desired outcomes; and have unresolved issues that still cause them pain.

Primary Care: Primary Care is the first stage of an individual’s treatment programme at Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services and is a more intensive 12 week phase during which a structured timetable is in place. See the Primary Care Timetable.

In addition to the traditional group therapy and one to one counselling sessions, all clients participate in basic skills education and computer training courses, a programme of physical exercise, menu planning and healthy eating advice, holistic and complimentary therapies and attendance at smoking cessation groups (although there is no requirement to give up smoking during the treatment programme).

Clients also have access to local medical services and are encouraged to attend for a full health check at the time of their admission to the service, with support available to enable them to attend any further medical appointments that may be required. As many of our clients have pre-existing dental problems when they arrive, we also encourage them to access local NHS dental service providers.

Secondary Care: Secondary Care is designed to meet the needs of clients who have completed the Primary Care element of their Treatment programme and wish to build on the progress they have made so far. Clients who access Secondary Care are beginning to make the transition into a more independent lifestyle but still require the support and care offered by a structured programme in order to sustain the major life changes they have begun to make.

Ensuring that this transition is made in a planned and manageable way is vital and therefore the level of structure and support will be monitored and reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of the client. The existing social and coping skills of the client will be considered before any additional responsibilities are placed on them to ensure that the rate of progress is realistic and sustainable for them.

During this phase the timetable is less structured but clients are still responsible for ensuring that they attend all timetabled activities. One to one counselling and group therapy sessions remain a major part of the programme, but additional time is given over to taking part in voluntary work and education or training opportunities.

Third Stage Care: Third stage supported housing is the final phase of the treatment programme, leading to a gradual and phased return to independent living.

Depending on the needs and wishes of the individual, this final stage can last up to 2 years.

During this phase, clients are supported in developing short, medium and long term goals for the future and exploring the options available to them.

Clients are encouraged to continue to engage with local education and training providers as well as participating in voluntary work and considering longer term plans for returning to or gaining employment.

Clients will receive one to one and group support sessions as well as having access to complimentary therapies and group activities. Third stage supported housing will be fully funded through Housing Benefit and supporting people.

After Care: Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services recognises that the transition from rehabilitation to independent living can be a difficult and testing time for many people. In order to provide clients with continuity of care and to ease this transition, aftercare, consisting of group and one to one sessions, will be made available to clients for up to one year following discharge.

During this phase of the programme, the focus will be on managing change and challenges, building support networks, goal setting and monitoring progress.

The aim of providing aftercare to clients leaving the service is to build on and consolidate the progress that they have made so far and to ensure that clients are not left without appropriate support once they have successfully completed the treatment programme.

Contact Details:

Sanctuary Addiction and Alcohol Services
12a South Parade
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS23 1JN

Telephone: 01934 614 700

Police, local authorities and Government Ministers met today ( 5 June 2008 ) to discuss stepping up the use of powers designed to clamp down on those who sell alcohol irresponsibly.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker and Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe called the meeting of senior police and local authority representatives to explore how existing powers can be used more effectively to control problem premises. They also shared knowledge about effective measures for tackling problem behaviour at pubs, bars and retail outlets.

High on today’s agenda was a discussion about the use of a new yellow and red card system. A yellow card will put the problem premises on immediate probation together with tough and uncompromising sanctions; a red card will mean the immediate loss of the licence. One of the aims of the summit is to discuss how this approach can be put into practice.

Vernon Coaker said:

"I am grateful for the ongoing support of our police and local authority partners in clamping down on the minority of problem premises. By working together we have already achieved a great deal - in the last national campaign fewer than 15 per cent of premises repeatedly sold alcohol to children, down from nearly 50 per cent three years ago.

"Today’s meeting is about sharing evidence of what works well already, alongside understanding how new powers will help us to go even further."

Gerry Sutcliffe said:

"Most licensees take their responsibilities seriously, but we need to be sure that those who don’t are quickly dealt with. There is a range of powers available that are being used effectively in many areas, but there is not a consistent picture across the country. We want to hear from police and local authorities about what has worked well in their area, and what problems prevent existing powers and resources being targeted effectively."

Ministers also encouraged police and Trading Standards officers to make full use of local knowledge to identify and target premises that are known to be selling alcohol to children or are a source of disorder, and make full use of the powers in the Licensing Act to deal with them.

These powers include the ability to review a licence as soon as problems occur, increased fines for breaches of the law, and the ability to apply a range of conditions on licence holders.

In order to ensure a more consistent and effective use of licensing powers and other interventions across England and Wales, the key points identified at the summit will be used to inform a series of regional workshops in the coming months. Local enforcement and licensing practitioners will be invited to attend the workshops to familiarise themselves with all the tools and powers available to tackle problem premises and alcohol-related crime and disorder.

An evaluation of the Licensing Act in March found that authorities are not always using the considerable powers granted by the Act to tackle problems, and that there is a need to rebalance action towards enforcement and to crack down on irresponsible behaviour.

Today also saw Alcohol Disorder Zone (ADZ) legislation come into force. ADZs will provide local authorities and the police with a measure of last resort for tackling high levels of alcohol-related nuisance or disorder in parts of town and city centres.

Department for Culture, Media And Sport

Ryan Hopwood, 25, who lives in Torbay, lost his driving licence after being caught drink-driving last year.

"I arranged a night out with my friends in Torquay and decided to drive because I didn’t really plan to drink.

"However, I did end up drinking alcohol but instead of getting a taxi home to Paignton I thought I would be OK to drive home after about an hour.

"I got about a mile down the road when the police stopped me near the Princess Theatre. I was breathalysed, taken to the police station and had to take a blood test as well."

As a result of the incident, Ryan was banned from driving for 12 months, reduced to nine months after he agreed to take the driving re-education course at the Devon Driver Training Centre. He was also fined £250.

"I also had to pay £120 for the course, my car insurance premium went up and I had the additional cost of getting taxis to work and back everyday.

"It was harder to go out with my mates in the evenings so I spent a lot of nights in watching TV. I just had to look at the car parked in the drive knowing I couldn’t use it - that was a very effective punishment for me.

"The course run by the drivers’ centre was very effective in making me realise how stupid drink-driving is. It taught me about working out units of alcohol and how easily drinking affects your driving.

"My advice is to just leave the car keys at home - don’t risk it. It is not just the inconvenience of losing your licence it is the hidden financial costs. More importantly, you are putting your own life and those of others at risk as well."

Department for Transport