Project helping people beat booze addiction

A SUCCESSFUL project which is helping people with drink problems to stay sober and rebuild their lives is hoping to reach more people across Worcestershire.

The Core programme was launched as a pilot last summer to help people in south Worcestershire achieve total abstinence from alcohol through a free ten week rolling programme.

And the initial success of the scheme means it can now accept referrals from the north of the county including Redditch and Bromsgrove.

It comes after the Standard revealed earlier this month that more than 105,000 people across Worcestershire are drinking at increasingly high levels, consuming eight or more units of alcohol a day or 50 or more a week - equivalent to over 20 pints of standard strength lager.

Project Manager Tanja Samaritani said: "Given the fact we have seen people graduate through the programme we know this is something that works so we are really keen to make sure we work with as many people as possible.

“We’re not anti-alcohol but we know that it can be really hard to stay sober when it feels like your drinking is out of control. Sometimes people need that extra bit of support and we want to enable people to be confident in their choice to be abstinent.”

"For some people this will be the first time they have been sober in many years and the improvement to their health, emotional well-being and relationships with their families is very significant."

The programme was set up by Worcestershire Community Addictions Team (WCAT) and works through a series of workshops.

These include group therapy, one-to-one support, social activities and relaxation sessions.

A recent graduate from the course - who asked not to be named - said it had helped her overcome binge drinking and turn her life around.

"I don’t know at what point I became an alcoholic, initially I was just going out and having fun with my friends but then I lost my job and the drinking got worse," she said.

"The staff team here are great and so understanding - they see something in you and give you that initial strength. It’s like building your life again step by step.”

People can refer themselves to the programme as long as they are aged over 18 and want support to be totally abstinent from all substances. For more information call 01905 729400 or visit www.corecommunity.org.uk

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