oacas logo   Orkney Alcohol Counselling
& Advisory Service
 
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  OACAS

  6 Bridge Street Wynd

  Kirkwall

  Orkney

  KW15 1JD

  Tel:  01856 874738

  enquiries@oacas.org.uk

 

  Site last updated 27/11/2008

Services

Please select one of the following to see a brief rundown of the available service.

Alcohol Counselling

Drugs Counselling

Partners & Relatives Counselling

Support Group

Other Life Issues Counselling

Orkney Youth Counselling Service

 

Alcohol Counselling

We help people who are suffering from the effects of alcohol misuse, either through their own excessive drinking or because someone they are close to (spouse, family member, friend) is drinking too much.

We also encourage those who do drink, to do so responsibly, within safe limits and without causing harm to themselves or others.

Our aim is to limit the effects of alcohol misuse on individuals, families and the community, by providing a range of services and activities.

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Drugs Counselling 

Having become aware of clients with drug problems we commissioned a Drugs Rehabilitation Needs Assessment Report earlier on in 2001 to assess the need for OACAS to provide a counselling service and how to best design and develop such a service.

We help people who are suffering from the effects of substance misuse.

These substances may be:

   Drugs - prescription or illegal

   Solvents

   Aerosols

Substances must be treated with respect. The misuse of substances can lead to wide ranging problems and considerable difficulties in various areas of our lives: relationships with family and friends, employment, finances, health (physical and psychological) and involvement with the law, amongst others. Even small infrequent amounts of substance use affects the behaviour of individuals to some extent.

Most people who develop a substance misuse problem would previously have considered themselves to be only a ‘recreational user’. The question is: what caused the change?

Substance abuse/misuse problems can occur for a variety of reasons. It’s not only a matter of the amount or type of substance used, but of how, why and where substances are used, and the company they are used in.

This misuse may be by either their own use, or because someone they are close to (spouse, family member, friend) is using drugs.

We can assist those who want to reduce and/or terminate their substance misuse; maintain their rehabilitation; and help with relapse problems.

Our aim is to limit the effects of substance misuse on individuals, families and the community, by providing a range of services and activities.

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Partners & Relatives Counselling

We also offer counselling and support to the friends and families of anyone who may be misusing alcohol or drugs.

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Support Group

We occasionally run a support group, formerly run by the Alcohol Specialist Nurse at the Balfour Hospital, for individuals who are affected by someone else’s misuse of alcohol, and would rather get together with others that are having similar problems.

These sessions take place at the Counselling & Support Centre where OACAS is based in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

For details contact us

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Other Life Issues Counselling

Besides alcohol and drugs services we also counsel other ‘Life Issues’, such as:

     Stress

     Anger

     Relationships (Families/Partners/Friends)

     Gambling

     Low Self Esteem

     Self-Harm

     Coping Strategies

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s lifestyle, you should talk to a counsellor in confidence. Just talking to someone who has the time to listen constructively can help to relieve you of some of the burden of any worries you may have - even if it is only to get information, advice and/or guidance. We have experienced counsellors who can help.

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Orkney Youth Counselling Service

The Youth Counselling Service is the evolution of our Young Persons Alcohol Advisory Programme (YPAAP) that we started in September 2002. YPAAP was based on a scheme operated in Paisley by Renfrew Council on Alcohol. It had been developed because of the concerns over the lack of follow-on services to assist under-age drinkers, who had come to the attention of the Police, Children’s Reporter, Social Work and the NHS Orkney. In addition to helping children it also involved their parents, who often collude unknowingly in their children’s drinking.

An early intervention scheme – at the point of crisis – was thought to be more effective than the general addiction education available in the schools at that time. 

The Aim of YPAAP:

Was to provide an integrated referral, alcohol education and counselling service in Orkney for the Police, Children’s Reporter, Social Work and the NHS Orkney.

What do we offer?

We offer a service which is designed to provide a safe environment for young people to openly discuss problems or issues they are having in their personal life, where appropriate within one week of initial contact or referral. Which can be from the various sources such as: Careers Scotland; Children's Reporter; Criminal Justice; Doctor; Family Members; Home School Support Worker; Hostel House Parent; Orkney College; Pastoral Care; School; Social Work Children & Families; Support Training. Young people can also contact the Service directly by phone, email, dropping-in or through a friend already using the Service.

Since the Service started running our Youth Counsellors have found that there is a distinct pattern emerging whereby a significant number of their clients have been ‘hard to reach’ young people, those who are not only having difficulties with statutory authorities, but also family, school and their peers.

We are finding that the intensive one-to-one approach to these cases is just as, if not more important, than group alcohol education sessions. The number of sessions per client depends on the individuals’ issues and how he/she wishes to deal with them.

 

FUNDING

Thanks to Youth Crime Review Group, Awards For All, Comic Relief, and Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland for the funding of I.T. and office equipment, and training for Counsellors and Staff in connection with this Service.

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