HUNDREDS of people were given the chance to celebrate their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction at a special gathering in Renfrewshire.

Abbeycare, which runs a residential rehabilitation centre in Erskine, hosted its annual recovery gathering on Sunday, September 3.

Around 300 people attended the event at Glynhill Hotel and Spa in Renfrew, including former and current clients, their loved ones, and the staff members who have supported them.

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Paul Bowley, chief executive of Abbeycare, told the Gazette: “This year’s recovery gathering was an extremely positive event and we were delighted to see so many people attending.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together with shared experience to celebrate all they have achieved and remind them of the ongoing support we can offer.”

The Gazette:

There was a performance from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde choir, while author Aidan Martin, who has written extensively about his own recovery journey, gave a keynote speech.

Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron also attended, along with industry professionals including Richard Watson from the charity Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs.

It came at the beginning of National Recovery Month and after official statistics revealed there were 1,051 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2022, and 1,276 deaths specifically related to alcohol.

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Abbeycare Scotland is a specialist residential abstinence-based substance use supervised detoxification and rehabilitation service.

Its clinic, which offers counselling, harm reduction interventions, extensive aftercare, family support, and recovery care planning, is located in Erskine but accepts admissions from across Scotland, including both private patients and local authority referrals.

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All previous and existing clients of Abbeycare were invited to the gathering, giving them a chance to share experiences of their ongoing recovery journeys, reconnect with those who have supported them and celebrate their achievements.

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“We’re grateful to all our speakers on the day, and to the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde choir for putting on such an incredible performance,” added Paul.

“The event was all the more poignant as it came at the beginning of National Recovery Month, and as latest statistics laid bare the harm that alcohol and drugs can do.”