Naomi courageously shared her story of overdosing from opiate drugs, how her live was saved by naloxone and someone willing to use it, and the time she witnessed someone else overdosing and having life saving naloxone administered to them.
Naomi’s full story of overdoses and naloxone below: (4 minutes, 42 seconds)
There are places to find others working on addiction recovery. Here’s a good list if you live in Cambridgeshire to consider:
CGL (Change Grow Live) is free for anyone in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough seeking help with drugs and/or alcohol (including prescription drugs). You can check out their Cambridgeshire website here: Change Grow Live, Cambridgeshire, or email cambridgeshirereferrals@cgl.org.uk, or phone: 0300 555 0101. For the Peterborough website click here: Aspire, CGL Peterborough, or phone 01733 895 624 or 0800 111 4354 or email peterborough@cgl.org.uk.
CRS groups are a safe and relaxed space where people can come as they are and if they want folks can create something of their own. Anyone is welcomed to come and see for yourself at Free Flow Friday in Huntingdon on Fridays at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Akeman Street Community Centres at 1pm on Wednesdays in Cambridge and March Recovery Café at the March Community Centre on Thursdays at 10am and Ely Recovery Cafe at The Countess Free Church at 10am on Mondays as well as Monday mornings in St. Neots. No appointment is needed so if you are in Cambridgeshire you can turn up and meet the friendly people who will offer you a hot beverage, snack and more.
SMART Recovery isn’t a 12 step group, but they are a mutual aid group with many similarities to 12 step. They welcome anyone wanting to recover from any addiction (substance and/or behaviour). They create a space where people don’t need to be labelled as an ‘addict’ or ‘alcoholic’, their program is based on psychology and boasts no spiritual aspect.
Cocaine Anonymous groups support other addictions beyond just crack and other forms of cocaine and their website says, “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances.”
Narcotics Anonymous groups also support recovery from more than just narcotics. Their website says, “..it’s not a specific drug which defines addicts, it’s whether we have an addictive personality. If you want to stop, but cannot on your own, you qualify.”
Alcoholics Anonymous groups were the first free mutual aid group. Requirements for attendance is a desire to stop using alcohol and they usually limit sharing to the topic of alcohol (unlike the others I’ve listed above). You can call their national helpline for free on 0800 9177 650 to talk to a member of AA who has been through addiction, understands it first hand, and is keen to help others find their own recovery.
And, of course Keep-Your-Head is a wealth of support customised to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Best regards,
