Alcohol Help

Health bosses in Blackpool are urging local people to back a call to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol.

Public Health Blackpool is campaigning for a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol and is appealing for people to join in the debate and consider the
question “How much does alcohol really cost you?”

With alcohol available in some outlets in Blackpool as cheap as 12p a unit Steve Morton, Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Advisor at NHS Blackpool, says
the time is right to introduce a minimum price for alcohol as the link between price, consumption and harm that can no longer be ignored.

Blackpool has amongst the highest alcohol harm figures in England with over 4,500 alcohol related hospital admissions each year, this has resulted in
pioneering services and campaigns.

However, despite the best efforts of all involved there is a need for big change to change culture and attitudes to help Blackpool. For this reason NHS
Blackpool are joining other pioneers to campaign for a minimum unit price for alcohol.


He said: Despite this intervention we have a tiny budget compared to that of the alcohol producers and have consequently not reduced consumption amongst those drinking.

“Indeed, although we have less drinkers in the north west, those who do drink, are consuming more alcohol than at any time in the last 100 years.

“We have learnt how to treat the symptoms effectively and to police the night time economy better, but we have not addressed the fundamental issue of increasing consumption. This has resulted in a spiralling increase in alcohol related hospital admissions, with a doubling over 10 years.

“We need more effective solutions. Evidence suggests introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol would make alcohol less affordable, thus reducing consumption and in turn the associated harm “We firmly believe that steps need to be taken to pursue a minimum price of 50p per unit as an integral part of a range of measures to tackle our rising alcohol problem.

“We know that politicians will be concerned about public opinion and the impact on people’s pockets. However, they should also note that the public are very much aware of the effect of pocket money prices on consumption.’’

Recent Home Office Research showed that two-thirds of the public believe the amount of alcohol people drink in Britain is out of control. The research also showed that 93% of heavier drinkers under the age of 35 say they have witnessed alcohol-related crime and disorder in the past 12 months.

He added: “In terms of cost to a moderate drinker, the impact of 50p per unit would be minimal. Prices in licensed premises would not be affected as the minimum price of a pint of lager for example would be £1.50. For the take home market a 750ml bottle of wine (12%) would cost approximately £4.50 and six 500ml cans of lager (4%) would cost roughly £6.

“Commonly supermarket brand cider is sold for under £1 per litre. With the introduction of 50p minimum unit price a litre bottle of cider (5.5%) could not be sold for less than £6.”

Surveys in the North West have found that up to 45% of the public polled would support a minimum unit price for alcohol, including in one survey 48% of young people.

The support base for minimum unit price has also increased from earlier surveys. Recently, a flash poll was conducted by the UK’s leading discount website and the results showed that two thirds of Britons support the proposed plans for minimum pricing on alcohol; with the majority hoping that the plans will help tackle binge drinking. 94.4% of publicans indicate that supermarket price promotions have adversely affected their trade and 90.7% of them would support a minimum unit price.

NHS Blackpool
Blackpool Stadium
Seasiders Way
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY1 6JX

Telephone: 01253 651200

A leading councillor is urging people to join in a Lancashire-wide “big conversation” about drinking alcohol.

The big conversation centres on the social dangers of excessive drinking as well as its health effects – and includes a survey and a Kirkham-based youth evening on fun alternatives to alcohol-based cocktails.

Councillor Cheryl Little, Fylde Council cabinet member for Social Wellbeing, said: “Alcohol is fine in the correct proportions and this month’s Alcohol Awareness Week is concentrating on the wider social consequences.

“We’re asking people to think of things such as walking home alone after a night out, saying things you might later regret and even sexual assault.

“All these things are related to excessive drinking. They are things that can be avoided by staying in control. Young people especially think it is cool to drink far too much – but it can be embarrassing and even disastrous.

“The NHS has launched a survey on the social consequences of drinking and I hope that people will complete it to help us piece together the real picture of alcohol use in the area.”

The NHS is organising a “mock-cocktail” evening of non-alcoholic alternatives for young people at Kirkham Youth Base at 6.30pm on Thursday 17 November.

Fylde Council
The Public Offices
292 Clifton Drive South
St Annes
Lancashire
FY8 1LH
01253 658 658

Holly Lodge, Lytham St. Annes
Extended Primary Treatment for Men and Women with Substance Dependency or Addiction

About us:

Holly Lodge is a 16-bed Extended Primary Treatment Centre operating from a residential Care Home in a quiet area of st. Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire. The Property is within a short walk of the sea font, public servicesand shopping areas.

We work with both men and women, (aged 18-64), who have successfully completed the treatment programmes of either Pierpoint House or Female Focus.

The Holly Lodge Extended Treatment programme is designed to build on the progress made during earlier Primary Treatment and provides additional support to those people who need to continue to address deeper underlying issues.

We Provide 24-hour staff support, including trained Addiction Counsellors and Project Workers, in a safe, structured and non-judgemental environment. The average length of stay is 12 weeks, depending on individual need.

In order to prepare an individual for life in wider community, and for successful progress into independent living, each resident is assisted in gaining the skills necessary to cope with the challenges of daily living, without resorting to active addiction.

Holly Lodge operates within certain Rules and Expectations which provide the structure and boundaries necessary for the Centre to maintain a safe and fuctional therapeutic environment.

On entry, residents are still learning about, and allowing themselves to process the feelings involved in facing the consequences of their previous lifestyle. Individual Counselling and Group-work enables each individual to work through these difficult feelings.

There is some element of group work every day, with the majority of the groups being held Monday to Friday. Groups Vary in content, but focus on the two elements of daily living skills and emotional recovery, for example:-

Basic Living things
Cooking Skills
Budgeting Skills
Communication & Conflict Resolution
Relapse Prevention & Coping Skills
Topic & Theraphy Groups
Relaxation Groups
Peer Support Groups
Group Recreation & Leisure Activities

Residents take on the responsibility for the household upkeep and have input into community decisions. A Group Leader role is delegated to most peers at some time during their stay. This provides the oppurtunity to practise new found skills such as delegating tasks, effective communication and conflict resolution.

Peer support is an integral aspect of the programme, enabling the development of positive peer relationships with those able to identify with the specific needs and experiences inherent in maintaining an abstinent way of life.

The Programme is designed to facilitate preparation for independent living and successful life management without creating further dependency. All residents are encouraged to attend local Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Other Self-Help Groups and appropriate Support Agencies are also recommended when individual circumstances require it.
Home leave is negotiated and usually takes place on weekends. It is seen as an important aspect of the programme, providing the individual with oppurtunities for further insights and self awareness in relation to relapse prevention and re-integration back into mainstream society.

Contact Details:

Holly Lodge
2a Victoria Road
Lytham St. Annes
Lancashire
FY8 1LE

Telephone: 0845 458 3700

Pierpoint House, Lytham St. Annes
DetoxPlus for Men and Womes and Primary treatment for Men with Substance Dependency or Addiction

About us:

Pierpoint Addiction Treatment Centres, based in St.Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire, provide a comprehensive and ‘holistic’ treatment programme for Men and Women aged 18-64 years.

All our treatment programmes work from an abstinence-based philosophy so that each person may reach a clearer understanding of their Substance Abuse, Dependency or Addiction.
We believe that people who have alife-threatening relationship with Drugs and / or Alcohol need a period of time totally substance-free in order to make a clear assessment of their lifestyle.

The DetoxPlus Module provides effective intervention through Assessment Replace Prevention Education. A team of General Practitioners with extensive experience of the process of Detoxification provide a full Medical Assessment after admission.24-Hour Nursing cover is also provide to ensure that each individual’s physical and mental health is appropriately managed in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental,drug and alcohol-free environment.

Pierpoint House provides a 12-week highly structured therapeutic programme for Men. Aftercare and Family support is also provided.The Modified 12-Step Module helps the ‘out-of-control’ User to gain a greater awareness of the full cycle of chemical dependency. Service Users are presented with an understanding of the first 5-Steps with specific focus on their unmanageability with regard to alcohol and/or other drug abuse.

It is probable that you would benefit from Primary Treatment at Pierpoint House if you realise that your Alcohol and other Drug use is out of control and that your life has become unmanageable and you need to be in a safe, supportive atmosphere in a Residential Centre that is very committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free environment while you receive treatment.

Contact Details:

Pierpoint House
385 Clifton Drive North
Lytham St. Annes
Lancashire
FY8 2NW

Telephone: 0845 458 3700

Female Focus, St. Annes-on-Sea
Women’s Specialist Primary Treatment Centre

About us:

Our Specialist 16- bed Women-only Treatment Centre at Female Focus is the Only 12-Step Primary Treatment Centre in the country. Our experienced and qualified Counsellor-Therapists, Nurses, and Project Workers provide a ‘Therapeutic Recovery’ environment, enabling clients to Focus on their Recovery 24 hours a day

The Female Focus Primary Treatment Centre’s Programme is designed to enable a person to ‘focus’ on their addiction-related problems in a caring, non-judgmental, supportive environment. A highly structured and disciplined programme is in place, to help Clients face the reality of their drug, alcohol or other addiction problems.

Addiction involves losing control. The lengths that people go to in order to feed their addiction inevitably creates pain in their own lives and the lives of those around them. Acceptance of this as a reality directly threatens the active addict’s main aim- that of Using!!

In order to deal with this conflict, the addict develops a complex system of psychological avoidance, commonly known as ‘Denial’. It is imperative to challenge denial because while this denial remains intact, the addict is immune to the consequences of their using and as such feels little or no need to change.

The removal of the usual distractions of daily life such as music, television and inappropriate reading material is part of the ‘focussing’ process of Primary Treatment. This is found to be essential in the process of confronting denial, otherwise in the relatively short 12-weeks of Primary Treatment, the client will not undertake facing the extent of the damage that their substance abuse, dependency or addiction has caused themselves and other family members. An appreciation of the consequences of their using lifestyle is vital for the individual ,in order to develop the motivation to instigate and maintain change.

Where appropriate, family members and significant others are encouraged to participate in the treatment process at all stages. By attending family conferences and presenting written and/or verbal consequences, and in conjunction with various therapy groups designed to present the individual with the facts of their lifestyle in a caring and respectful manner, clients are helped to see through their denial.

The Primary Treatment programme facilitates the ‘out-of-control’ User in gaining a greater awareness of the full cycle of chemical dependency, with specific and direct focus on their unmanageability with regard to substance abuse. Relapse Prevention groups assist individuals in guarding against repeating the same mistakes, by presenting essential concepts and skills, which prepare the client for other lifestyle options and the tools to maintain positive choices. A Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution programme is also presented to further enhance the re-building of relationships with family members and significant others. Using these skills also enables each individual to build appropriate, functional and supportive relationships with fellow peers.

Female Focus uses a Modified 12-StepTreatment Model alongside the Beyond Addictlon Concept of Recovery.The Modified 12-Step Model works with the basic principles of traditional 12-Step philosophy; those of Self-Awareness and Self- Development, while presenting these concepts in a ‘user friendly’ framework. Steps 1-5 support the client in looking honestly at their substance abuse, the loss of control of behaviour and the stretching of personal moral boundaries. Individuals are encouraged to concentrate on different areas of their life e.g. family life, social life, work life. Through education groups, written assignments, family conferences and peer support groups, the individual is assisted in connecting with the consequences of their using. Clients thus start to see the need for change should they wish to avoid the chaos and self-destruction of their old lifestyle, and begin to be open-minded to the possibility of an enjoyable and productive life that is free from dependence on substances.

The opportunity of being with people who have encountered similar circumstances, encourages clients to seek support from their peers and to consider other people’s points of view. The programme encourages people to develop a ‘Spiritual Attitude’ based on ‘Care and Respect’ that has a message of ‘Giving, Receiving and Sharing’ as a foundation to live by. It encourages the person in a cycle of positive growth, building self-esteem and self-awareness, enabling the individual to build healthy relationships with themselves, other people and the world around them. Each person is encouraged to participate in a process of self-discovery, rather than viewing herself as a ‘victim’ to random influences. Building a trust in ‘Life as the Ultimate Teacher’ is seen as a very important aspect of the Modified 12-Step philosophy. This concept encourages personal responsibility and enables an individual to learn from previous choices, gain wisdom through personal experiences and make new choices that facilitate pers
onal empowerment.

The Primary Treatment process gives the ‘out-of-control’ User self-awareness as to how the use of substances has in real terms affected themselves, their families, friends, employers, the local community and society in general. From this stand-point, the client is then involved in looking at their personal characteristics as demonstrated in past and present behaviours and attitudes, in order to develop awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, Most people carry much guilt, shame and regret about many of these events; and in an attempt to diffuse this, they share these experiences with another human being, independent of the Treatment Centre.

This is done in a confidential atmosphere of acceptance and non-judgment with a listener, who is also in recovery, offering support through personal identification.By these means, clients gain a greater self-awareness and will be more able to make a mature and informed decision as to whether they will be able to control their drug or alcohol use in the future.

Contact Details:

Female Focus
Craiglands
361 Clifton Drive North
St. Annes-on-Sea
Lancashire
FY8 2PA

Telephone: 01253 723144

Blackpool Alcohol Team, Blackpool
Helping Reduce The Negative Impact Of Alcohol Consumption

About us:

Blackpool Alcohol Team Provides A Caring Alcohol Service, Consisting Of An Alcohol Outreach Team & Self Help Support Groups & Services To The Greater Blackpool Community

Blackpool Alcohol Team works in the Greater Blackpool Community with our outreach services, self help groups and services for all victims of alcohol abuse !!

We work with street drinkers, homeless & vulnerable adults suffering from alcohol abuse and individuals returning to Blackpool from detox / rehab or prison !!

We also develop and maintain self help groups and services for all in recovery wishing to remain alcohol free, faciliated by abstainers with 2 years + recovery

We are presently an alcohol self help & support organisation, aiming to offer a holistic alcohol service in the near future for the Greater Blackpool Community

Blackpool Alcohol Team also provides a referral link service to alcohol / drug treatment services, tenancy support and volunteering and training etc

We hope you find this information useful. Please tell your friends about this website. This website is dedicated to saving lives. Seize the moment… We are here to help…

The Goal Of Increasing Life Expectancy Can ONLY Be Achieved By Preventing The Causes Of Early Death

Blackpool Alcohol Team Is Working To Achieve This Goal With Front Line Services and In Developing & Maintaining Self Help Support Groups & Services, Helping To Reduce The Negative Impact Of Alcohol Consumption

Assisting To Decrease Alcohol Related Deaths & Alcohol Related Crime

Contact Details:

Blackpool Alcohol Team
39 Springfield Road
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY1 1PZ

Telephone: 07933 589676