Scotland’s drugs and alcohol policy minister has visited a residential rehabilitation centre in Renfrewshire to hear directly from people in recovery and the staff supporting them.
Maree Todd toured Abbeycare’s facility in Erskine, meeting residents who are recovering from addiction and frontline workers delivering treatment and support. The visit focused on how residential rehabilitation is helping people rebuild their lives and contributing to national efforts to reduce alcohol and drug-related deaths.
During her visit, the minister spoke with current residents about their experiences of addiction, the challenges they faced accessing treatment, and the steps they have taken on their journey to recovery. She also met staff at the centre, many of whom have personal experience of addiction and rehabilitation, using that insight to inform their work with others.
The visit also highlighted Abbeycare’s new partnership with the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation. As part of the collaboration, weekly outreach sessions are now being held at the club’s stadium through the Abbeycare Buddies initiative.
Launched in September, the Abbeycare Buddies programme has created a community hub aimed at supporting people dealing with a range of addictions and mental health issues.
Abbeycare provides continuous care for people with alcohol and drug addictions under one roof, including supervised detoxification and residential rehabilitation. Its programmes also include counselling, harm reduction work, recovery care planning, family support and extensive aftercare services designed to help people address the underlying causes of addiction.
The centre at Erskine Mains House accepts admissions from across Scotland, supporting both private patients and individuals referred by local authorities.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “I was very pleased to see the work being done by Abbeycare staff and partners to support people recovering from substance use.
“Abbeycare’s participation in the Scottish Government’s Prison to Rehab protocol means it has been able to provide vital support to people seeking recovery directly from prison.”
Liam Mehigan, operations director at Abbeycare, said: “It was a pleasure to show the minister around our rehab centre in Erskine and discuss the vital work we do supporting people in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.
“During her visit, she was able to hear first-hand from people in the early stages of their recoveries, who are determined to get their lives back on track.
“Our staff also spoke about the life-changing impact that services such as ours can have, and the role Abbeycare is playing in Scotland’s national mission on drug-related deaths.
“We believe that abstinence-based residential rehabs will be crucial in turning the tide over the long term, operating alongside other specialist services.”
Photo: Maree Todd’s visit to Abbeycare