Drink and Drugs News October 2016 | Page 6

RECOVERY MONTH... OVERdOsE awaRENEss..

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life

‘ GET POLITICAL’:

THE RECOVERY WALK

DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS WE HAVE SEEN UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF DISINVESTMENT IN TREATMENT and recovery support services and the highest levels of drug-related deaths ever recorded. Despite this, during this September’ s Recovery Month, we celebrated the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions.

Taking part in September’ s Recovery Month reinforces the positive message that behavioural health is essential to overall health; that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover. More people than ever before across the UK organised local events, celebrating the fact that recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a lived reality in their lives and that demand for our advocacy and training services has continued to grow.

As austerity continues it is becoming apparent that the state can no longer guarantee effective, high quality treatment for all and we are hearing of funding cuts to services in England of up to 40 per cent. There has never been a more important time for recovery communities to stand up, speak out and become politically engaged. We need to highlight the fact that every day in the UK people in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs volunteer their time to help others and make their communities better places to live. They are truly one of the greatest assets local communities have.

The stakes have never been higher. This year’ s Recovery Month and Overdose Awareness Day activities brought service users and recovery communities together with one clear goal

We received significantly less sponsorship funding for the UK Recovery Walk than in previous years and yet it was the biggest and best so far, with more than 6,000 people in long-term recovery and their friends and families. A special thank you to all of this year’ s sponsors and our amazing team of more than 300 volunteers who enabled us to be custodians of the famous UK Recovery Walk. We look forward to seeing you next year in Blackpool!

Annemarie Ward, Faces and Voices of Recovery UK. View FAVOR UK’ s short film challenging negative stereo types and stigma at www. facesandvoicesofrecoveryuk. org

‘ LET’ S CONNECT’:

RECOVERY COMMUNITY

THE FIFTH ANNUAL LUFSTOCK EVENT TOOK PLACE FOR THREE DAYS, bringing families of the recovery community together for a camping weekend. The 250 people who attended connected as a community, creating strong friendships and lasting memories.

This followed Lancashire User Forum( LUF)’ s tenyear anniversary event in Preston, attended by service users, volunteers, treatment providers, and other interested parties. It was broadcast live by BBC Radio Lancashire’ s Sally Naden and Brett Davison, but the format of this special occasion was devised by the service users. As part of a packed agenda, we hosted the spoken word artist, Steve Duncan, who composed a unique poetry performance especially for our anniversary.

Not only was the event a resounding success; it also provided an open forum where professionals were scrutinised in regard to the landscape of the LUF over the next ten years. It built on the notion of hearing the service user’ s voice and having a positive impact on all recovery communities.

Meloney Hafeji, Red Rose Recovery

‘ TEAM SPIRIT’:

RECOVERY GAMES

MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER YORKSHIRE AND LANCASHIRE came to celebrate being drug and alcohol free at the third annual Recovery Games – an initiative from Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust( RDaSH) and The Alcohol and Drug Service( ADS), under the newly launched partnership of Aspire.

The games link to the five ways to wellbeing and offer an exciting platform for people in treatment and recovery and those working with them to have fun and build on the principles of connecting with each other in new ways without substances. They offer a chance to learn new skills and ways of communication, while giving time, effort and money to worthwhile causes.

They show what recovery can feel like and create momentum through forming a giant conga through the‘ festival of colour’. And most of all they show that there’ s nothing better than being active, getting out and about, and feeling alive, when you’ ve been stuck in a rut like Groundhog Day.

The day had a strong family theme, supporting

6 | drinkanddrugsnews | October 2016 www. drinkanddrugsnews. com