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