Nearly A Third Of People In Swindon Have Drugs And Alcohol problems

There are around 2,400 people in Swindon addicted to drugs with as many as 40,000 people estimated to have alcohol issues, leaving many friends, family and loved ones worried and concerned.

 Time 4 Us is a special group run by the Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol Drugs Service (SWADS) and supported by NHS Swindon. Within the group, people will learn how to support someone who is dependent on drugs or alcohol.

Julie Mattinson, who leads the sessions said: ‘What we do is give people support, encouragement and a safe place to talk openly about how they are feeling. We can give practical advice about the different treatments their loved one is having, and also offer relaxation techniques like acupuncture to help them cope with stressful situations. We also help put the fun back into people’s lives in a variety of ways, including going out for meals.’

Chris Stickler from Swindon Community Safety Partnership said: ‘There are many people in Swindon who look after people who have drug or alcohol dependency but don’t see themselves as a carer. They often don’t get the support they need as they don’t want to admit they are struggling. They use up all their energy looking after their loved one which can make them feel isolated and stressed. These sessions are therefore a great opportunity to help people cope with these emotions and challenges.’

The sessions take place twice monthly, on the first and third Monday of each month, and are for over 18 year olds.

For more info call 01793 610139 or email time4us@hotmail.co.uk