Themes

17th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 17th September 2023
Categories

Now What?

Marcus sums up his addiction to drugs by saying that every single moment was about getting money to get drugs... and find somewhere to do it. And then having heroin help him escape from the reality of his lifestyle. When you've been living like that for years and you try to stop using... now what?!
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16th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 16th September 2023
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Connection

James Deakin emphasises that members of North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) have to not only attend mutual aid groups, but also engage in a minimum of 20-30 hours community social activities a week. 'It's forming those sober connections, it's being around other people that are clean and sober... it's about connection.'
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15th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 15th September 2023
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Stigma

Our interviewees talk about various aspects relating to the stigmatisation of people who have had a past drug or alcohol problem.  David McCartney describes the negative reactions of a doctor who was assessing him as part of the process of determining whether he was eligible to receive benefits after he had come out of a treatment...
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14th September 2023
North Wales Recovery Communities
Author: David Clark Posted: 14th September 2023
Categories

Giving Back, Part 1

James Deakin points out that a major ethos of North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) is to be of service to the wider community of Bangor and further afield. He emphasises that the social cost of addiction is huge. One of the great things about recovery is that people actually get well and gain strength by giving their time and...
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13th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 13th September 2023
Categories

Trauma and Addiction

James Deakin says: ‘For the vast majority of us it [addiction] is self-management of an underlying condition, it’s self-medication, or it’s just using any drink or drug to move away from a set of feeling[s] for a period of time.’ Addiction is often a symptom of a psychological problem, such as the impact of trauma. When people arrive at Penrhyn House, the residential part of North...
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12th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 12th September 2023
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Nature of Recovery, Part 1

Huseyin Djemil says, in relation to something written in Andy Partington's book Hope in Addiction: ‘The real deal in recovery is being bitten by the spider, is having that internal transformation somehow, that makes you look at everything differently. And it changes you.’ Can you can guess who provides the tools, metaphorically speaking?
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11th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 11th September 2023
Categories

Living With Heroin Addiction

In a very short space of time, Marcus Fair was paying £20-40 a day just to feel normal in the morning. Crack cocaine followed, which led to burglaries. Injecting the drugs came next. Marcus travelled around the country buying heroin to feed his addiction. He used to wear out towns, rather quickly, because of the amount of crime in which he was...
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10th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 10th September 2023
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Recovery Advocacy, Part 1

Huseyin describes the treatment system wheeling out 'their' people in recovery and saying, 'Look at how wonderful we are!" He goes on talk about an old proverb he uses from time-to-time: ‘Until the lion learns to write, all the stories will be from the hunters’ perspective.' 'I guess these videos, the blogs, and all of that is the lion...
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9th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 9th September 2023
Categories

Development of a Drinking Problem

One of David McCartney's parents had a drinking problem and this led to a lot of uncertainties and unpredictabilities in the family, which in turn resulted in young David developing anxiety and fearful states. Rather than ask for help, he internalised everything. When he was working as an an inner city GP, David became overwhelmed and...
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8th September 2023
Author: David Clark Posted: 8th September 2023
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Factors That Facilitate Recovery

Wendy Dossett and Wulf Livingston discuss various factors at an individual, system and societal level that help people recover from addiction. These factors include the power of community; having an environment where choices are available, as well as signposting, communication and collaboration; and an environment...
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