Glasgow recovery 'thriving' despite alcohol-related crime

As part of our series examining alcohol and the justice system, we sat down with two staff members from the Northeast Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service.

The project provides flexible, personalised support for people who live with addiction and volunteer to join.

This includes offenders who seek help after their court appearance as part of their sentence or following their release from prison.

Many come through the doors while going through the Alcohol Court meaning their crimes were attributed to alcohol consumption.

Gwydion ap Siencyn (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Gwydion ap Siencyn, senior addiction practitioner, said: "The sheriff is looking for commitment by that person.

"Change only comes through choice so it’s the individual’s choice and we are empowering them to make that decision.

"We are skilled at working with people who have developed quite significant trauma.

"These symptoms of trauma can be manifest in behaviour that can be a bit antisocial. The anger management problems, swearing at people. 

"In a lot of cases, they will get you barred from a lot of  services but we understand the people we work with do require a special approach."

Recovery plans are created by professionals based on individual needs and goals.

And at their Parkhead office, medical experts work with offenders on-site and refer them to other organisations if required.

They offer a range of support, from medication to housing aid, help with parenting and more, all based on what the men and women ask for.

Mainly, the aim is to assist them as they try to change their own lives.

The health worker added: "This is not to say that the person needs to be alcohol-free. They can still be drinking, but they need to be seen to be linked in with some sort of recovery work and more importantly, not offending."

Staff at the programme are very busy as they say the issue around excessive drinking in the city is prevalent.

At the same time, those who reach out for support also have widespread options.

Jayne Drennan, team leader, said: "Glasgow is really fortunate in terms of the recovery community in Glasgow is thriving.

"We've got a lot of volunteers that have been through recovery services and then established abstinence, stability and recovery cafes.

"There's a huge amount of great work that goes on here.

"I don't think anybody's naive but a lot of the narrative around people in this city that use drugs and alcohol is very negative.

"People are facing all sorts of barriers and stigma."

Gwydion said: "We're in a city where the problem is crazy when it comes to substance misuse and the problems that come up with that.

"It's renowned throughout Europe, in the world probably. Social problems are linked to drink and drugs.

"So we're very busy. We have an extremely big caseload compared to maybe other places in around Scotland, horrendously more than them.

"But we've got recovery cafes, enhanced drug treatment programme, which involves medical-grade heroin to be administered to people.

"We've also got the planned consumption rooms.

"So we’ve got all these tools."

All this work is based on a relatively new approach promoting healing instead of punishment in cases when the offender has problems with alcohol consumption.

Jayne said: "We need to appreciate that there has been a shift in the last few years in Scotland, away from punishing people that are relying on substances and alcohol for whatever reason.

"There’s been a real shift away from punitive measures and trying to make it more supportive and look at it as a public health issue.

"The move away from punitive measures towards a more caring public health justice-related stuff has been important.

"Because that old approach doesn't work."

The Northeast Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service is located at 871 Springfield Road and welcomes anyone looking for support.

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