Alcohol use as a coping mechanism for stress

North East England Health Summit:Inequalities-related Stress28th June 2016

Mr Mark Joyce (Service Manager)Changing Lives

Overview

• Changing Lives and The Fells• Homelessness, Stress & Alcohol• The Care and Control Dilemma • Peer Research and Service Improvements

The Fells

Care V’s Control

• How can we effectively manage the care and control dilemma?

What would an alternative look like?

• “Alcohol is the same as drugs; some people use it as a coping mechanism – it’s like a crutch.” Participant 4 (late 40s)

• “Started drinking before legal age. I used to buy bottles. I feel restless and rock backwards and forwards sometimes. It’s like you want to do something but you can’t. The rule [not to drink alcohol on site] is a safety mechanism for staff and I wouldn’t like living here if it was like that [wet site which allowed drinking on premises]. Northerners are beer monsters!”. Participant 2 (early 60s):

• I don’t want to stop drinking. I agree that is should be a dry site but I have still contravened the agreement (tenancy) and been caught. Just got a swerver [informal warning] and empty bottle took off. It depends on staff. Some staff wouldn’t give you a swerver. You’d get swung, hung and quartered by [some staff ] but if [other staff] caught us you’d get a swerver. But after a few times they would have to enforce it”. Participant 3 (early 30s):

General group discussion

• If didn’t have any money worries (e.g. by not being unemployment) would drink more alcohol but costly

• Residents buy alcohol at the local shop because cheaper and drink in ‘Baz’s shed’ but it gets cold outside and being told ‘no’ you can’t drink on site makes you want to

• If no rules then people would drink all the time and they would be rolling around being abusive so a good thing to have a dry site

• The social element motivates people to drink• Residents drink in cliques

Challenges

• Trust and buy in• Getting residents to open up, be honest• Managing resident expectations• Delivering Trauma Informed services

Alcohol use as a coping mechanism for stress

North East England Health Summit:Inequalities-related Stress28th June 2016

Mr Mark Joyce (Service Manager)Changing Lives