Scotland’s minister for drugs and alcohol policy has visited a leading residential rehab centre, meeting people in recovery from addiction and the frontline staff who support them.
Maree Todd toured Abbeycare’s facility in Erskine, Renfrewshire, to hear about its life-changing services and how it is contributing to reducing alcohol and drug-related deaths.
The minister spoke to current residents about their experiences of addiction, the barriers they faced in accessing treatment, and how they started themselves on the road to recovery.
She also heard from staff at the facility, many of whom have previously been through rehab themselves, and now use their experiences to inform their care of others.
The minister was also informed about Abbeycare’s exciting new partnership with St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, with weekly outreach sessions being held at the club’s stadium.
The Abbeycare Buddies initiative, which launched in September, created a new community hub to support people struggling with a range of addictions and mental health issues.
Abbeycare provides continuous care for people with alcohol and drug addictions all under one roof, offering supervised detoxification and rehabilitation.
Its programmes also include harm reduction interventions, counselling, recovery care planning, family support and extensive aftercare to services help people address the issues behind their addictions.
The centre at Erskine Mains House accepts admissions from across Scotland, including both private patients and local authority referrals.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said:
‘I was very pleased to see the work being done by Abbeycare staff and partners to support people recovering from substance use.
‘Abbeycare’s participation in the Scottish Government’s Prison to Rehab protocol means it has been able to provide vital support to people seeking recovery directly from prison.’
Liam Mehigan, operations director at Abbeycare, said:
‘It was a pleasure to show the minister around our rehab centre in Erskine and discuss the vital work we do supporting people in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.’
‘During her visit, she was able to hear first-hand from people in the early stages of their recoveries, who are determined to get their lives back on track.
‘Our staff also spoke about the life-changing impact that services such as ours can have, and the role Abbeycare is playing in Scotland’s national mission on drug-related deaths.
‘We believe that abstinence-based residential rehabs will be crucial in turning the tide over the long term, operating alongside other specialist services.’
Stuart McMillan has visited one of Greenock’s two Jericho House facilities after its future was secured by one of Scotland’s leading residential rehabilitation providers.
The MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde toured the men’s recovery centre on Bank Street, meeting residents and staff whose jobs were saved.
The facility was previously operated by the Jericho Society, but Abbeycare recently agreed to acquire two services in Greenock and one in Dundee, in a move that preserved 30 jobs and ensured that 40 rehab beds were kept open.
During his visit, McMillan heard about ongoing plans to upgrade the facilities, and how the new partnership will ensure that the services will continue to be accessible for local residents.