SAFER COMMUNITIES
Getting help can change your life
Bobby*, of Ealing, has struggled with addiction for years. However, he started to turn his
life around when he summoned up the courage to ask for help.
“I lived with bi-polar for years and dabbled with most drugs but codeine was my main
addiction,” he said. “What started out as a hangover cure developed into a serious
addiction and I was eating painkillers like sweets and my liver had swollen. I had
no choice; I put myself in to the hands of the experts. I got the help I
needed and was given options. I got prescribed with the medicine
I needed and started a volunteer empowerment scheme which
really helped me get myself sorted. It’s important to know that
there are people who can help out there – I’d advise anyone
in a similar position to speak to them and lose the
shackles of your addiction.”
*Name has been changed to protect his identity
“If you’re addicted to something
it can seem like it will last forever.
Many people see no way out,”
explained Michelle Brown, manager
of Rise West Ealing. “It’s important
to know there is help available
and, although it’s never easy, and
tackling an addiction can take time,
having somewhere to go where you
will be safe, looked after and given
some structure to your treatment
can help a great deal.
“The type of help you can get at
RISE includes one-to-one support
with a trained counsellor, taking part
in group sessions with other people
who are in similar situations, and
getting checked for any harm caused
by using drugs, with medical help
available if needed. We can also help
with things like housing, benefits and
getting you into training courses and
employment when you’re ready.”
You can contact Ealing RISE
on 0800 195 8100.
UNDER 18?
Ealing Alcohol and Substance
Youth (EASY) based at Westside
Young People’s Centre, Ealing W13
provides specialist help for young
people aged 10-18 experiencing,
or at risk of having, problems with
drugs and alcohol.
Call EASY on 0208 825 9888
for more information.
“Many people see no way
out. It’s important to know
there is help available.”
EFFECTS ON CRIME
A big part of the council’s drive to
make the borough safer is to tackle
crime head-on. Drug addiction is one
of the biggest factors behind crimes
like burglary, robbery, assault and
street theft. The gains are sold cheaply
on the street and the money is used to
pay for the addict’s next ‘fix’.
The council’s community safety
teams and the police have been
working with agencies like RISE and
others to help reduce the effect on
the community caused by people
dependent on drugs and alcohol.
Crimes including thefts from a person,
motor vehicle and burglary, decreased
in 2014.
around ealing
Spring 2015
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