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UNFAIR ODDS
I was encouraged and pleased to read
the article ‘Loaded dice’ in your
September edition (page 6). It echoed
my thoughts in terms of there not
being enough help for the thousands
of people in the UK suffering from
gambling addiction/issues. My
biggest gripe is that the government
need to do more in terms of providing
support and funding for the NHS, so
that we can have more referral outlets
that are able to offer the services
greatly needed to tackle this ever-
increasing social problem.
Be sure that this is a national
problem that affects everybody and
anybody. Not only does gambling
addiction bring on other mental health
issues such as depression, but it has
a massive affect on those individuals’
families and friends, breaking down
relationships and friendships with the
very people who are close to us.
I’m one of the lucky ones who
came out the other side, but believe
me there are many who are not so
fortunate. I lost over £500,000, and it
took me a long time to come to terms
with the fact I had a problem. If you
feel that you may have a gambling
issue, please get professional help
before it’s too late. Denial is a major
factor in a gambler’s DNA so I can
fully understand why we keep silent
and not let our family and friends in,
but, believe me, in the long run you
will be relieved you found the courage
and strength to break that silence. It
could save your life.
I have just set up my own company,
and we aim to provide a service for
the thousands of sufferers out there,
and not just on the therapy side but
just as importantly the prevention
side, which we will do through our
presentations throughout the UK.
It’s imperative we all work together
to raise awareness and support those
who are in real need of help, as it’s a
crying shame that as a country we are
not doing enough to stop thousands
from a life of debt, illness and misery.
That has to change and change
quickly.
Tony Kelly, by email
Author of
Red Card
,
www.kellysredcardconsultancy.co.uk
CUP OF CHEER
I wish to share with your readers the
growing benefits of the social
enterprise café run by our addiction
recovery charity, the Spitalfields Crypt
Trust (SCT).
Two years ago we launched a
coffee-bookshop, Paper & Cup (
DDN
,
March, page 7). It provides an open
door to the local community in order to
de-stigmatise addiction. It gives people
in recovery a place to learn barista
skills and gain work experience, while
building social skills and self efficacy.
Paper & Cup has been a huge
success and has enabled us to work
in a new way with our service users,
while creating relationships with local
people and businesses.
There are no notices on the walls
about addiction. Many customers
come and go without realising that
they have been served by someone
who was homeless and in the grip of
a serious substance addiction. Others
pick up on our aims by chatting or by
picking up our small leaflet. They all
encounter recovery in an environment
that is non-threatening and attractive.
In the past month a new chapter
of the Paper & Cup story has begun.
With funding from Comic Relief, we
are opening as a ‘recovery café’. At
7pm each Wednesday, Paper & Cup
turns into Choices Café – a coffee
shop run by service users with greatly
reduced prices, board games,
fellowship literature and more focus
on our recovery community aims.
These evenings provide a social
space for people in recovery to meet,
share ideas, form friendships and
have fun.
Our recovery steering committee
are keen to make Choices Café open
to anyone and local people come in,
keen to pick up a bargain coffee. We
are delighted to see this ‘de-
ghettoisation’ happening, giving
people the chance to take that brave
step Bill W. [William White] called ‘a
bridge to normal living’.
Brent Clark, addictions therapist and
community development manager,
Spitalfields Crypt Trust,
www.sct.org.uk
Obituary |
Letters
10 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| October 2014
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
LETTERS
JOIN THE CELEBRATION
Elly Sanchez recaptures the fun and
inclusivity of RDaSH’s Recovery Carnival
INSPIRED
by the success of last year’s recovery games, the Rotherham
Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) drug and
alcohol services team in Doncaster held a recovery carnival in Doncaster.
Visitors braved the dreary September drizzle to join in the fun and games
at the all-day event at Sandall Park, which celebrated mutual aid and
recovery, while helping to reduce stigma.
The day increased knowledge about access to treatment, and helped
sustain addiction-free recovery and what works beyond medical treatment.
Organisers reached out to those who are still suffering with addiction who
may fear accessing treatment, by demonstrating it is possible to recover and
contribute to society.
Designed to be family friendly and fun, the event included activities and
attractions like
human table
football, a space
hopper relay and a
‘lob a welly’
competition, as well
as street
entertainment
(magic and fire
eating), music from local bands and a recovery walk.
‘The event brought together local communities, families, carers and
friends to raise awareness of mutual aid and peer-led support networks,’
said service manager, Stuart Green.
‘No one sets out to have a drug or alcohol problem. Recovery is beyond
prescription; this is as much a healing of the community as the individual,
and we demonstrated that not only is there is a life after drugs, but also
that recovery is infectious and motivating.’
Elly Sanchez is medical secretary at RDaSH. Anyone seeking help or advice
can contact www.drughub.co.uk
Championing recovery
Throughout September, more than 100 vibrant activities
took place across the country for Recovery Month