Addiction and Social Prescribing

Addiction is an issue affecting people and their families in communities across the country. Government figures for England show that between April 2020 and March 2021 there were 275,000 adults and 11,000 young people in contact with drug and alcohol services, whilst there are estimated to be 600,000 adults with alcohol dependency and 300,000 users of opiates and crack cocaine.

It is not only a common, but a complex problem. With 17% of adults entering treatment saying they had housing problems, and 63% saying they needed help with their mental health, these figures suggest that those suffering from addiction need interventions which will do more than simply help with their addiction.

Social prescribing is well placed to help people in need of this kind of support. In this webinar we will explore how social prescribing can connect people with community groups and advice to help them with all aspects of their recovery.

What will you learn/hear?

Social prescribing is ideally placed to help people with addiction problems, treating people holistically, connecting them with advice and local groups within their communities to help with their recovery.

In this webinar we will hear from the All Party Parliamentary Group for 12 Steps Recovery, individuals with lived experience, and New Note Projects who help people with addiction issues through music.

What is 12 Step Recovery?

The core 12 step programme can be used to recover from any and all addictions, be it substance, process or behavioural addictions, and can significantly improve mental health. There are currently approximately 30 different 12 step fellowships that are active in the UK. The biggest 12 fellowships, by numbers of weekly meetings, cover 98% of all UK meetings. These include Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Families and Friends of Alcoholics, Gamblers Anonymous, and Sex Addicts Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous is the largest with over 50% of the weekly meetings.

Who are New Note Projects?

New Note Projects is an award-winning charity based in Brighton. They use music to help people who have faced addiction issues. Their musicians have faced many barriers including homelessness, isolation and mental health issues. The participants use music to reconnect with themselves, their families and the wider community.

Who is it for?

Anyone involved with social prescribing or addiction support who is interested in finding out more about how the two can work together to support people.

You might be from a community or voluntary group, a charity with a focus on helping people with addiction, the NHS, or a local authority.

Who will be speaking?

• Dr Samantha Duggan, Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group for 12 Steps Recovery
• Justine C, member of 12 steps recovery fellowships
• Molly Mathieson, Founder and Chief Executive, New Note Projects
• Chair: Joshua Ryan, Head of Thriving Communities, National Academy for Social Prescribing