Service users took part in the official opening of the Reset Drug and Alcohol Services on a ‘Recovery Walk’ event on Monday 3 July.
Previously, services were split across several points of contact but now anyone requiring help with their drug / alcohol use can access support from a single point of access.
Divisional Director of Community Safety at Tower Hamlets Council, Ann Corbett and Marie Gabriel, Trust Chair of the NHS East London Foundation Trust opened the Reset Treatment Service at Beaumont House, Mile End Hospital.
The recovery walk started outside Beaumont House and concluded at the Reset Recovery Support Service, 183 Whitechapel Road, where staff heard stories from clients on their recovery journey. Around 50 service users were in attendance throughout the day and visitors were able to get a tour of the premises.
John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: “Tackling the problems caused by drugs and alcohol isn’t just about enforcement – it’s about supporting people to recover from addictions. That’s why the council invests more than £5M every year to help those suffering to recover and get their lives back.
“The Reset service is an invaluable lifeline for residents and helps make recovery a realistic and achievable goal in Tower Hamlets, thanks to the varied support and interventions available. Last year the council supported 350 people to successfully complete treatment programmes as part of their journey to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.”
Reset provides drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services to Tower Hamlets residents aged 18 or over and support to family and friends who are concerned about someone’s drug and/or alcohol use. The service has seen 500 new starts into treatment in the first six months since it opened for business on 1 February 2017.
One service user said: “The new Reset treatment service is like a one stop shop for my needs and I found all of the staff to be very caring and non-judgemental which is what most service users like me want.”
Another service user added: “I was referred on to the Reset Recovery Support Service and I am really glad that I attended the service. The staff are genuinely very helpful and caring and are helping me a lot.
“The staff even phone and check up on how I am feeling and doing which really makes me feel like someone cares about me. I like the new building and the atmosphere feels quite positive and I hope that the staff continue like this”.
Support offered includes:
• advice and information for people who use drugs and/or alcohol and are concerned for others
• community alcohol detoxification
• healthcare assessments
• testing for HIV, hepatitis B, C. Hepatitis B vaccination
• access to needle exchange
• assessment for residential detoxification and rehabilitation services
• counselling and 1:1 keyworking
• support for clients experiencing domestic violence
• onward referral to further support services as required
• signposting and access to mutual aid groups such as AA, NA and Smart Recovery.
If you have any concerns about yourself of a family member contact Reset on 020 8121 5301, elt-tr.reset@nhs.net or visit: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/reset
– Press realise