Alcohol Help

Recovery Resources, London
Services for employers, families, friends and colleagues of people with alcohol problems.

About us:

This is an abstinence based programme which takes a multi disciplinary approach to substance abuse. It uses the 12 step programme and the Hazelden and Institute models. There is no religious orientation.

Services offered:

Advocacy, Befriending, Brief interventions, Day programmes, Education and training to individuals, Family and/or couple counselling, Group work, Psychiatric assessment and interventions, Relapse prevention, Self-help and Structured programmes.

There are a variety of separate groups with the chemical dependency practitioner: single sex groups, prisoners, the over 60s, ethnic minorities and problem drinkers with children.

They also offer family therapy and dual diagnosis. The programme lasts 6 months on average. There is no disabled access (1st floor) but they will go out to visit.

Charges apply - contact for details.

Area: Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster

Referral: Self or via professional

About Drug And Alcohol Addiction

What is addiction?

Addiction - to drugs, alcohol or anything else - is an illness, which is progressive in nature. The British Medical Association, The American Medical Association and the World Health Organisation amongst many other bodies have officially recognised this for many years. \’Progressive\’ means that, once the addiction has taken hold, left unchecked it will get worse over time rather than better. It is not someone\’s \’fault\’ that they have an addiction, anymore than it is someone\’s \’fault\’ if they have cancer.

How can addiction be treated?

There are plenty of successful treatment programmes available both here in the UK and overseas. However, someone who has an addiction must first recognise that this is the case and then decide that they want help to overcome it. The problem is that one of the hallmarks of addiction is denial: the person concerned may not be able to admit that they have a problem. Denial can also affect those close to the addict or alcoholic - friends, family and colleagues may for some time be able to \’excuse\’ the behaviours of the person, rationalise them away or even help cover up the addiction. But, there usually comes a time when the destructive affects of addiction are too keenly felt by those close to the addict to be denied any longer.

How can family, friends and colleagues help?

Once the addiction is obvious to those close to the person in question, family members, friends and colleagues have basically two choices: do nothing, or do something. People with cancer or other physical diseases are not expected to wait until their condition is so bad that they are forced to seek help. As a society, we do what we can to offer treatment to people who are ill - so why should we treat drug addicts and alcoholics any differently? Rather than stand by and watch a loved one or respected colleague slide inexorably towards the famous \’rock bottom\’, they can choose to intervene with professional help to halt the progression of the addiction.

Contact Details:

Recovery Resources
38 Kings Road
London

SW3 4UD

Telephone: 020 7823 9099