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Month: December 2012

  • 13 Drink Drivers Arrested Every Day In Manchester Area

    13 Drink Drivers Arrested Every Day In Manchester Area

    13 Drink Drivers Arrested Every Day In Manchester Area

    M.E.N. Article Link

    Punish The Behaviour or Treat The Condition? We think BOTH!

    AlcoScan Breathalyser AL7000
    AlcoScan Breath Test

    There are more background stories and reasons as to why someone will drink drive than pebbles on a beach, and for anyone who has lost someone to a drink driver, not one reason is good enough.

    As an experienced specialist addictions counsellor I applaud the efforts to reduce the amount of drink induced death and injury. A police cell is a great time to honestly admit to oneself that you have a problem. Often the drink/drive is the final rock bottom for a progressive relationship with alcohol that has left the good times far behind. The problem drinker needs good treatment.
    I have found that a small percentage of drink drivers have just taken their last drink at the point of being arrested, because with the right balance of legal intervention, honest family and friends and a court / probation who are willing to work with an experienced independent therapist, then an abstinent based care plan can be put in place.
    No one ever got drunk if they never took the first drink. I often work with individuals who have had long standing problems. The drink drive is the perfect opportunity for family, friends, society and the law to say enough is enough, but punishment is not a treatment for the psychology of dependence on drink or any other addiction for that matter. Good treatment is essential. Bill Stevens Addictions Counsellor & Family Interventionist at www.redchair.co.uk

    How We Can Help

    RedChair will meet with a person facing a drink drive for a therapeutic assessment with a view to assisting in a care plan where the person is Genuinely and Honestly willing to pursue a treatment for their condition. A formal assessment, a court report and working with probation can result in a sentence that supports a clear abstinence based change supported by effective therapy. The sentencing can then be quite tough if the person fails to remain sober and represents with an alcohol induced criminal outcome. This velvet glove approach understands that addiction to alcohol is a treatable condition when the individual is able to consistently engage in a program of personal change.

    Of course, sober persons will never re-offend.

  • Ex-EastEnders Star Jodie Latham – Fear of Prison is Not Treatment

    Suspended Prison Sentence – Less Effective Without Specific Treatment

    Today’s headlines show former EastEnders and Shameless star, Jodie Latham, has pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence for growing cannabis in Lancashire. Latham explained that he grew the cannabis through concerns about buying from local drug dealers and risking his celebrity status.

    It seems the threat of prison is being used as a deterrent but this is rarely successful – if it was the prisons would be empty, would they not?  Take the history of Jodie Latham himself as an example of how this type of sentencing as flawed.

    The talented actor has previous convictions, two of which are related to cannabis. Giving a two year suspended sentence to someone who has repeated drug related offences is clearly not treating the problem.

    RedChair agrees with giving suspended sentences to people convicted of these types of offences however there has to be some kind of treatment in place to prevent it happening again.

    A person that has an ongoing relationship with drugs will not be able to simply stop through fear of being sent to prison. If that were the case, people would simply not take the drug in the first instance.

    RedChair’s solution to this is to ensure the criminal justice system signpost individuals to attend good quality treatment facilities.

     

     

  • Legalising v decriminalising? No, It Does not work.

    Drug statistics are showing an increase in drug use and drug related deaths in Portugal in many areas, but the facts are being spun out to support political arguments.

    “Drug-induced deaths in Portugal that decreased from 369 in 1999 to 152 in 2003,
    climbed to 314 in 2007 – significantly more than the 280 deaths recorded when
    decriminalization started in 2001”. (EMCDDS, Statistical Bulletin 2009, Table DRD-2.)

    The Portugal experience is about proactive treatment of an illness. We can do this in the UK and do not have to change the law for this.

  • Amsterdam imposes ban on smoking cannabis in school premises

    According to local media reports, Amsterdam’s city council plans to introduce a ban on smoking cannabis in school premises. Furthermore, 44 of the 250 coffee shops in Amsterdam will have to close as they are situated less than 250 metres from a school.

  • Walking On Eggshells. The Codependent Trap

    Co-Dependency & Fear. The Pain Continues For 75%

    • 95% of Family Interventions result in a loved one going into effective treatment.
    • Treatment outcomes are just as successful or unsuccessful  regardless of motivation to engage.
    • 75% of family members who inquire about or hear about Family Interventions take it no further.

    Families slip into codependency and fear in-line with the progression and development of a loved ones addiction, be it to alcohol, drugs or behavioural addiction. They start to mirror the psychology of minimisation, alibi systems and denial. This is required to avoid the pain of the reality which involves blame, anger, fear, shame, humiliation etc.

    Healthy values are disrupted and overturned when a family is in close to addiction issues.

    It is imperative that families unite to support each other to face fears, face anxiety and shame in a way that supports them and holds them. From this position they are able to intervene successfully and a loved one will take the offer of help. The Pre-Intervention process is so important. Read the books. Go to Families Anonymous or Al-Anon. Attend a family program. Read co-dependent No More.

    Most importantly, do not put off ending the misery of addiction by procrastinating over a Family Intervention.  To do nothing is to continue as you are. Addiction is progressive. You may want to await a “rock bottom” experience, this may help you avoid the reality by way of an intervention, but the outcome may not be so easy.

     

  • Bill Stevens Talks About Drugs & The Law

    Bill Stevens – Speaks on BBC  5Live

    Legalise or Decriminlise Drugs

    BBC 5LIve Tony Livesey Bill Stevens  Go to the 16minute point to listen to the discussion
    We spoke on the topic of drugs and the law in context of the recent discussions on changing the law. This link is good for a week.

     

     

  • Legalise Cannabis – Legalise Drug Induced Mental Health Issues

    Legalise Cannabis – Legalise Drug Induced Mental Health Issues

    Families around the world know the nightmare of a young person who develops mental health issues as a direct result of too much drug use. Legal or not legal, some people just can not handle, or stop at, recreational drug use. Cannabis is of particular concern in its modern strengthened form as it is responsible for many a poorly person who may never totaly recover a balanced mental and emotional life.

    Legal drug use is not a victimless legislation, and there is no way of knowing if it will by your nephew, son or neighbour who will be one of the few who develop serious problems. If it is, you will know about it, and then you will be in a world of hurt and frustration. Paranoia, psychosis or schizophrenia are very difficult to treat in young persons. This is made all the harder when the young person has been using drugs from late teens into early 20’s and still live with parents. They have been stoned through the normal emotional and mental maturing process. They find they are scared and aggressive, and totally dependent on friends and families to look after them.

    The good news is that only 1 in 10 persons has a pre-disposition to problematic drug use / alcohol use / gambling etc. The bad news is that on average 6 persons are directly affected by the drug induced problems of a friend or relative. 9 out of 10 persons who phone treatment centres, go to GP’s for help are the family, not the person with the problem. Who hits rock bottom first?

    As a Family Interventionist I am of course exposed to this in my work more than most. I am not against the fun and recreational or medicinal relationship with drugs that many want to focus on. However, please do not turn a blind eye to those who will be victims of this legislation. It is always the family and friends who ring for help. You could be one of them.