Change is happening thanks to project

Addiction support programme is making a positive difference

- EMYLIE HOWIE

An innovative project which seeks to support people living with addiction has helped more than 5,000 Renfrewshire people in the past five years.

Renfrewshire's Alcohol and Drugs Change Programme was established to take forward the recommendations of Renfrewshire’s Alcohol and Drugs Commission - a first-of-its-kind commission that sought to tackle the growing number of people losing their lives to illicit substances.

The commission was unique for its listening approach with more than 330 people with lived experience of alcohol and drugs harm taking part.

This approach has continued into the change programme, which focused on tailoring backing to support service user needs, including trauma-informed care, lived experience, early intervention and recovery.

One of the most impactful changes has been increased positive relationships between services and people who previously had difficulty engaging with services.

Projects like housing-led support My Life Ahead (MyLA) has supported 90 people facing complex challenges to sustain tenancies and reduce substance use.

Mobile outreach service Harm Reduction Response Team (HaRRT) reached more than 2,600 people, including many who were not engaged with existing services, offering lifesaving and harm reduction advice and support in the heart of local communities.