RedChair

Addiction Counselling Treatment

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Category: Legal Problem

  • 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.