rehabilitation
Creating a future
Prison can be an opportunity to change deep-rooted behav iour and begin to flourish , the team at Addaction tell DDN
‘
Ihave learnt that the crime I was doing and the drugs I was taking didn ’ t just affect me , it also affected other people – it ’ s a ripple effect ,’ said a prisoner at HMP Lincoln , describing the effect Addaction ’ s Trans4orm programme was having on him . ‘ It has helped me to share my problems and understand different ways to cope .’
Another participant called it ‘ a bright light in a dark place ’, and this was the intention of Louise Scherdel , Addaction ’ s Lincolnshire Prisons service manager , when she wrote and developed the programme under the supervision of Andrew Beaver , operations manager at Grantham Community Service .
‘ Our ultimate goal on the Trans4orm project is to equip prisoners with strong life skills to change deep-rooted negative behaviour patterns , so they can go on to live life free from alcohol or substance misuse ,’ she says .
Up to 12 prisoners at a time volunteer to engage in the programme and are screened first to make sure of their commitment . Once accepted , the participants are moved from their existing prison accommodation to a small community on a self-contained ‘ recovery landing ’, where they live together for 12 weeks .
In these new surroundings – which have been refurbished and painted with bright motifs and motivational statements by Trans4orm participants – the prisoners are given intense daily therapy sessions , both individually and as a group , by Addaction ’ s substance misuse experts assisted by peer mentors .
An important part of this programme is the Cognitive Approach to Recovery , written by Addaction to address the deep-rooted attitudes and thoughts that have resulted in negative behaviours and continuing substance misuse .
It ’ s a ’ holistic , whole-person approach ’, says Scherdel . ‘ We are always recovery-focused and work hard with the prisoners at HMP Lincoln to encourage enhanced levels of confidence , motivation and drive to achieve their own recovery … for many of the people who participate in Trans4orm it is the Addaction self-esteem , self-belief and self-confidence therapies that appear to offer them the most motivation to change negative patterns of behaviour .’
‘ We want people to leave prison and live a life free of drug and alcohol dependency and reoffending , and that means finding a balance between security and supportive therapy ,’ adds Beaver .
HMP Lincoln ’ s governor , Peter Wright , says ‘ the level of need among people in Lincoln Prison is almost overwhelming ’, but believes the programme is making ‘ a profoundly important difference to the lives of the men who take part ’. The 90 per cent completion rate has set a new benchmark for success .
‘ The best times I have here are when I meet people on the programme for their final session ,’ he says . ‘ It is a privilege to hear them tell their stories and how they have been able to face up to issues in a safe environment … Above all , I know from the moving testimony of service users that potentially life changing things are happening .’
The holistic approach to recovery includes a growing range of activities developed by the Addaction substance misuse team across both Lincolnshire prisons – HMP Lincoln and HMP North Sea Camp . Art therapy workshops have resulted in pieces by prisoners being exhibited in a London gallery ; a theatre company and music therapy group are performing regularly within both prisons , and a very popular ‘ recovery garden ’ project is enabling service users to grow vegetables for homeless people and the local church .
It ’ s all about promoting recovery as a genuine possibility – and a genuine alternative to drugs , says Scherdel . ‘ Keeping prisoners engaged and motivated , and helping them to reflect on their lives is very important . We want people to leave prison and live a life free of drug and alcohol dependency and reoffending , and that means finding a balance between security and supportive therapy .’
8 | drinkanddrugsnews | April 2017 www . drinkanddrugsnews . com