Cheers…
Thank you for organising the
national service user involvement
conference. It certainly was a day
to remember and could not have
come at a better time, because we
had only just recruited our four
new recovery champions and this
conference fitted in nicely with
their induction period. They
certainly enjoyed themselves,
made lots of new contacts as well
as meeting some old friends and
have returned to work inspired,
invigorated and full of ideas.
Scott, one of the recovery
champs from Aylesbury said that it
was great to feel part of a much
bigger movement of like-minded
people. Thanks, and looking
forward to next year’s event
already.
Colin McGregor-Paterson, CEO, The
OASIS Partnership, High Wycombe
Fear FaCtor
I totally agree with Beryl Poole that
fear may well be the dominant
emotion felt by those currently
using drug treatment services
(
DDN
, March, page 12).
A lack of reward and recognition
offered to service users, little
acknowledgement of those
pursuing ‘recovery’ journeys not
based on abstinence, and services
only looking at treated completions
are the main reasons why I
personally have stopped getting
involved in user involvement.
Stigma surrounding drug use
and those using drug services is
still pervasive and having to face
that stigma while being used by
commissioners and services as
unpaid advisers can be thoroughly
disheartening.
Peter Simonson, Camden, London
Make spaCe
I want to pass comment on the
article
Burden of grief
by Esther
Harris (
DDN
, February, page 11).
As an independent counselling
therapist and clinical supervisor, I
have worked within alcohol and
drug rehabs in both Lancashire and
Herefordshire. I still work with
family members whose lives have
been impacted upon by substance
misuse, as has my own life.
I want to emphasise the point
that Esther makes in her article,
that it is essential that those who
work in this field are alert to the
impact on us of the horrendous life
stories we hear from our clients.
Also, I wish to thank Esther for
reminding us of this. The impact of
Letters and Comment
12 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| April 2016
DDN welcomes your letters
Please email the editor,
or post them
to DDN, cJ wellings ltd, 57 High street, Ashford, Kent tN24 8sG. letters may be edited for space or clarity.
this work can be managed if good
use is made of supervision, which
ideally should be provided
externally – ie not provided within
the therapist/worker’s workplace.
As therapists, care of self is
essential to enable us to function
outside of the therapy room as well
as enabling us to be fully present
with our clients. I cannot
emphasise this enough. As I know
only too well, it’s easy to become
caught up with our work and not
to allow enough space for ‘self’.
Jane Pendlebury MBACP (Accred),
counselling therapist and supervisor,
…and tears
How disgusted and appalled I was
to see a ‘raging bull’ on the front
page of the latest issue.
Whoever made the decision to
put this in any part of the
magazine has no idea about
recovery – they should know there
is no room for aggression in
recovery. I was not present at the
conference, otherwise I would have
challenged him when I got over the
shock. It’s ironic coming from a
person who has made his money
out of the plight of the homeless,
many of whom were suffering
from addiction.
Please educate your editorial
staff and ensure if they have never
been addicted, they are at least
well versed on the sensitivity of
people who are!
Colin Miller-Hoare, peer mentor
recovering alcoholic; author of The
Child in Me
DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS
ISSN1755-6236
MARCH2016
Joinusandhaveyoursay:www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
THE 9TH DDN SERVICE
USER CONFERENCE
BIG ISSUE FOUNDER JOHN BIRD TELLS IT LIKE IT IS
IT’SYOUR
SHOUT!
‘How disgusted
and appalled I was
to see a ‘raging
bull’ on the front
page of the latest
issue.’
‘A lack of reward and recognition
offered to service users, little
acknowledgement of those pursuing
‘recovery’ journeys not based on
abstinence, and services only looking at
treated completions are the main
reasons why I personally have stopped
getting involved in user involvement.‘
