Ex-alcoholic who nearly died fears lockdown is making people turn to drink

Click here to view original web page at www.derbytelegraph.co.uk

A Burton woman who beat her addiction to alcohol and now helps others turn their lives around fears the pandemic could trigger a rise in people turning to drink.

Noreen Oliver was left close to death due to her drinking. But has since turned her life around and accomplished many things, including setting up the Burton Addiction Centre (BAC) in Station Street to help others with drink and drugs issues.

For years she has been helping addicts in Burton get back on their feet. The BAC programme includes rehabilitation work and volunteer programmes so recovering addicts can get some vital work experience, including working at the BAC-run Langan's Tea Rooms, in George Street.

However, the coronavirus pandemic means people are experiencing money worries and bereavements, which are huge triggers for alcohol abuse, she said.

How to get the latest Burton news

Did you know you can now get the latest Burton news, straight to your inbox?

To sign up, all you have to do is enter your email address into the "sign up to FREE alerts" box at the top of this article.

And if you later decide that you no longer wish to receive the emails, you can just follow the unsubscribe link in the newsletters - though we hope this won't ever be necessary.

Mrs Oliver says alcoholism can "run rampant in families" and she fears the virus could cause a ripple effect as more people become addicted to alcohol as they struggle to cope.

She said: "Most people who come to this service don’t think it will happen to them but addiction has no prejudice.

"It doesn't matter who you are, what your status is or your religion, it runs rampant in families.

"My view is that this is going to have a huge ripple effect going forwards."

She said there are a number of reasons people may be turning to the bottle during the pandemic.

"Anyone that has suffered bereavement or grief whether it be COVID-related or not, people use alcohol as a crutch and not being able to be with loved ones can have a knock on effect.

"In this situation not being able to have a funeral for a family member can be devastating and these are things that will be having an impact for weeks and months to come.

"Isolation can also cause problems with people's mental health. This morning a chap who has been doing really well at university told us he was struggling.

"He said he doesn't want to drink but it's his mental health that is suffering. He feels so alone.

"When you are drinking in pubs it's different to drinking at home and I think there's going to be a huge demand for services like ours on the back of the pandemic.

"There may also be people that need help but won’t seek it as they’re fearful that they might get coronavirus, as well as all the types of pressures that lead to people using alcohol in the first place."

Mrs Oliver is also mindful that the pandemic has led to a rise in domestic abuse, fuelled by alcohol.

She said: "We know there's been a rise in domestic violence because people are using alcohol.

"It will be interesting to see what the rise is in child protection numbers after this as there will be children stuck at home witnessing this abuse.

"It has an effect on their life as they are seeing domestic violence and think it's normal.

"Then they may suffer trauma in the future that will be a revolving door for alcohol misuse.

"I'm sure there will be a demand for children's services as well."

Although Mrs Oliver said she does not know if there will be an increase in drug use, she worries that "people will become more resourceful".

She said: "I think there's been a decrease in drug use such as heroin and crack cocaine but an increase in drugs, including amphetamines.

"People will become resourceful and we just don’t know what the impact will be."

She said people of all backgrounds are affected by drinking, including professionals who start off with a "tipple that spirals out of control".

She said to any experiencing drink issues during lockdown: "Please pick up the phone.

"It's very important that they do ask for help because it will spiral out of control.

"Test yourself - if you can’t go for a week without any alcohol or if you can do it but having a drink is all you can think about then there is a dependency there.

"If you're drinking every single day or night it will creep up and soon your 12 'o'clock tipple will become your 10am drink.

"There are professional people who have worked all their life and then first thing in the morning they are reaching for the bottle.

"Don't let it get to that point."

Finally she has urged people not to be afraid – as she understands how difficult it can be to seek help.

She said: "Don't worry about costs. People think rehab is too expensive or just for celebrities but that's not the case; that's a myth.

"We don't judge. A lot of us have been there that’s why the BAC exists.

"We just want people to get their lives back together.

"At whatever stage their drinking or drug use is we are here to help."