Tough start for Sallies' addiction services

Salvation Army’s addiction services facing a tough start to 2009

The Salvation Army is beginning to see a rise in demand for its addiction services as people pick up the pieces after the festive season.

Addiction services manager Major Lynette Hutson says alcohol often heightens underlying personal and financial tensions when families get together during Christmas and the New Year. The current recession has clearly raised stress levels further, she said.

The economic pressures on families like rising living costs, redundancies or uncertain job security add to an already potentially hazardous mix for some, she said.

“One of the clear trends we’ve seen is that people in times of economic stress often consume greater amounts of alcohol. When this coincides with the Christmas period there is the potential for great emotional and physical damage within the drinker’s family – particularly domestic violence – as well as further aggravating any financial problems.”

The aftermath of the New Year is often a time when alcoholics and drug addicts review their lives and decide to seek help, Major Hutson said.

“In January and February we traditionally see a rise in the number of people with alcohol or drug problems or their families contacting us for help, but we’re concerned that demand will further increase in 2009.”

Steve entered The Salvation Army’s Bridge Programme for addiction treatment three and a half years ago. He says Christmas used to be a particularly tough time – both financially and emotionally – and a period where his drinking intensified.

During several years of sobriety, Steve has moved from the unemployment benefit to managing a retail store and has re-built the once strained relationships with his children.

“Before my treatment, Christmas for me was the lowest of the low times,” he said.

The Bridge Programme treated more than 3300 alcoholics and drug addicts in the past year and has programmes in Kaitaia, Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Alcohol remains the root cause of addiction in the overwhelming majority of people seeking treatment and is the greatest single contributor to social harm in New Zealand, Major Hutson said.

A recent UK study of two alcohol treatment programmes showed the cost of treatment was saved five-fold in reduced demand on health, social welfare and criminal justice services.

New Zealand economists have estimated the cost of alcohol related harm is $1-4 billion a year, with about $655 million spent on health services alone.

ENDS

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