Hundreds of people in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions have attended a special event in Renfrewshire to celebrate their achievements with friends and family.
Around 300 people came together at Abbeycare’s annual Recovery Gathering on Sunday, September 8, at the Glynhill Hotel and Spa in Renfrew, marking the start of National Recovery Month.
The event is organised and hosted by Abbeycare Scotland, which runs a residential drug and alcohol addiction recovery clinic in Erskine.
The idea behind the gathering is to bring together Abbeycare’s community of existing and former clients and their families, making the process of recovery more visible.
This year’s event was held less than three weeks after official figures showed that 1,172 people in Scotland died as a result of drug use in 2023, an increase on the previous year.
Statistics published last week also showed that 1,277 people died from alcohol-specific causes in 2023, the highest number for 15 years.
All previous and existing clients of Abbeycare were invited to the Recovery Gathering, giving them a chance to share experiences of their ongoing recovery journeys, reconnect with those who have supported them, and celebrate their achievements.
Collectively, those attending the event had accumulated 933 years of ‘clean time’ between them, demonstrating that recovery is both possible and can be maintained.
The keynote speaker at the event was Eddie Gorman, who previously worked for Abbeycare and now manages the Harbour recovery service in Ayrshire. He is in long-term recovery from addiction himself.
The audience also heard speeches from Ross Carrick and Emma Harrison, both former Abbeycare clients, who talked about their own issues with addiction and the impact it had on their lives.
Another speaker was Barbara Calderwood, whose son Andrew sought help for his addiction to alcohol from Abbeycare. There was also a performance from local choir Voice of the Town.
Paul Bowley, Chief Executive of Abbeycare, said: ‘This year’s Recovery Gathering was truly unforgettable. It was a privilege to listen to some of our former clients reflecting on their journey back to health, surrounded by the love and gratitude of their families and friends.
‘Events like this make me incredibly proud of the Abbeycare team and the work they do every single day in helping people recover from addiction and giving them their lives back.
‘Recent figures show that Scotland continues to be in the grip of a drugs and alcohol crisis, with thousands of people tragically dying last year alone.
‘Services such as ours have never been more important, and we are determined to be part of the solution in changing this narrative in the months and years ahead. We must stand together and stand up for recovery.’
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This content was provided by Abbeycare