Surviving The Festive Surviving The Festive SessionSession

A Recovery Survival Guide to A Recovery Survival Guide to avoiding the Ghosts of Christmas avoiding the Ghosts of Christmas

Past!Past!A Perth Christmas Story as told A Perth Christmas Story as told

By: Ba Humbug.By: Ba Humbug.

Ebenezer’s Scrouged!!Ebenezer’s Scrouged!! We all know the story of Christmas We all know the story of Christmas

Past and the story of change that Past and the story of change that takes place in one fateful night!takes place in one fateful night!

In reality we all know that Christmas In reality we all know that Christmas is not always the pleasant time that is not always the pleasant time that people expect it to be. Many people people expect it to be. Many people really do face their ghosts, and they really do face their ghosts, and they ain’t always pleasant!! ain’t always pleasant!!

This guide is designed to help you This guide is designed to help you face the festive session as best you face the festive session as best you can. Please check with Perth & can. Please check with Perth & Kinross Services for any changes.Kinross Services for any changes.

Challenge One!Challenge One! The Ghost of projects closed!The Ghost of projects closed! Many projects can and do close their doors Many projects can and do close their doors

over the holiday period, please make over the holiday period, please make yourselves aware of the opening times. yourselves aware of the opening times.

This includes your GPs and other This includes your GPs and other important services! Get a hold of the important services! Get a hold of the emergency contact numbers.emergency contact numbers.

(Project open times for P&K are in the next (Project open times for P&K are in the next slide! Always check with the project for slide! Always check with the project for opening times)opening times)

Local Services Closing Times:Local Services Closing Times: Highland House, will be closed the Highland House, will be closed the

2525thth & 26 & 26thth Dec and the 1st & 2 Dec and the 1st & 2ndnd Jan. Jan. CAIR Scotland is closed 25CAIR Scotland is closed 25thth & 26 & 26thth

Dec and the 1st & 2nd Jan.Dec and the 1st & 2nd Jan. TCA: is closed, 25-26TCA: is closed, 25-26thth Dec and 1st & Dec and 1st &

2nd Jan 2013.2nd Jan 2013. Several Local Churches provide Several Local Churches provide

meals at various times: please check meals at various times: please check this.this.

Out of Hours Services!Out of Hours Services!

Social Work: 0845 30 111 20Social Work: 0845 30 111 20 NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24

Local Services!Local Services! Change is a must: Closed, 25Change is a must: Closed, 25thth-27-27thth

Dec and 1-3Dec and 1-3rdrd Jan. Out of Hours: 01738 Jan. Out of Hours: 01738 476768 (provides 24hr cover over 476768 (provides 24hr cover over Public Holidays)Public Holidays)

ECLIPS: 25ECLIPS: 25thth-26-26thth Dec Closed and 1 Dec Closed and 1stst and 2and 2rdrd Jan re-opens 3 Jan re-opens 3thth Jan. (Call Jan. (Call 01382 200532 for info)01382 200532 for info)

Change is a must can be accessed by Change is a must can be accessed by calling 01738-742260. At Public calling 01738-742260. At Public Holidays the Out of Hours Social Work Holidays the Out of Hours Social Work Number.Number.

National Support ServicesNational Support Services

Scottish Recovery Consortium:Scottish Recovery Consortium:

0141 226 1662 0141 226 1662 www.sdrconsortium.orgwww.sdrconsortium.org

Scottish Drugs Forum:Scottish Drugs Forum:

0141 221 1175 0141 221 1175 www.sdf.org.ukwww.sdf.org.uk

{Naloxone information is available{Naloxone information is available

On this site} On this site}

Project Contact Details!Project Contact Details! www.plusperth.co.ukwww.plusperth.co.uk : 01738- : 01738-

6262442.6262442. Tulloch Net; covers Tulloch: Tulloch Net; covers Tulloch:

richardh@tullochnet.org.ukrichardh@tullochnet.org.uk 01738-562731. Closed 2501738-562731. Closed 25thth Dec Dec till Jan 2till Jan 2ndnd..

Samaritans: 01738 626666 or Samaritans: 01738 626666 or 0845 909090.0845 909090.

CATH: 01738 633077CATH: 01738 633077 Al-Anon: 0141 339 8884Al-Anon: 0141 339 8884

Local Recovery Groups:Local Recovery Groups: PAST can be contacted by e-mailing PAST can be contacted by e-mailing

pastgroup1@gmail.compastgroup1@gmail.com or calling: or calling: Tony on 07428297035.Tony on 07428297035.

INSPIRAL can be contacted at INSPIRAL can be contacted at inspiralperth@g.mail.cominspiralperth@g.mail.com or calling: or calling: 01738-626242.01738-626242.

Family Support can e-mail Family Support can e-mail e.p.i.c.s.1@hotmail.co.uke.p.i.c.s.1@hotmail.co.uk or calling: or calling: 0778491205007784912050

Challenge Two!Challenge Two!

The Ghost of Winter Weather:The Ghost of Winter Weather:

Talk with your worker, find out what Talk with your worker, find out what happens in case of bad weather, to happens in case of bad weather, to your script, your attendance your script, your attendance requirements etc!requirements etc!

Surviving The Challenges!Surviving The Challenges!

What can you do to survive this time of What can you do to survive this time of year:year:

Plan out what you have to do over the Plan out what you have to do over the next few days/week. next few days/week.

Remember there is support out there Remember there is support out there for you. (please seek support if you for you. (please seek support if you need it)need it)

Talk over the challenges with your Talk over the challenges with your workers, friends and family.workers, friends and family.

Survival Helplines!!!Survival Helplines!!!

AA: 0845 769 7555AA: 0845 769 7555 NA: National Helpline: 0300 999 1212NA: National Helpline: 0300 999 1212www.ukna.orgwww.ukna.org National Helplines Organisation: National Helplines Organisation:

www.helplines.org.ukwww.helplines.org.uk (Has the list of (Has the list of all helplines you requires)all helplines you requires)

Christmas Things!Christmas Things!

If you ain’t the Baa Humbug type:If you ain’t the Baa Humbug type: Go out and see the Christmas Lights and Go out and see the Christmas Lights and

attractions.attractions. Go for a walk and look at the shops, you Go for a walk and look at the shops, you

really don’t need to buy anything.really don’t need to buy anything. Look out for free events, like Carol Singing.Look out for free events, like Carol Singing. Check out what is happening at the local Check out what is happening at the local

churches and community centres.churches and community centres. Go to the Library and stock up on books Go to the Library and stock up on books

DVDs things to keep you going.DVDs things to keep you going.

The Natural Beauty!The Natural Beauty!

Perth & Kinross, is certainly one of the Perth & Kinross, is certainly one of the most beautiful area’s of Scotland, wrap up most beautiful area’s of Scotland, wrap up and enjoy the winter scenes.and enjoy the winter scenes.

Make a wee list of things you want to do, Make a wee list of things you want to do, check out the Library notice boards for check out the Library notice boards for eventsevents

Make sure you are aware of transport Make sure you are aware of transport issues; check with Travel Line on 0871 200 issues; check with Travel Line on 0871 200 2233 or 2233 or www.travelinescotland.comwww.travelinescotland.com to to check any disruptions.check any disruptions.

Attending Meetings!Attending Meetings!

If you are attending AA or NA If you are attending AA or NA meetings (or any support meetings), meetings (or any support meetings), phone the contact person and see if phone the contact person and see if you can share transport with other you can share transport with other people. NA now meets in Perth on people. NA now meets in Perth on Friday Evenings.Friday Evenings.

Plan ahead for the holiday stop dates!Plan ahead for the holiday stop dates!

Things to Do!Things to Do!Families!Families!

You can do things like make your own You can do things like make your own Christmas cards, like the old Blue Peter style.Christmas cards, like the old Blue Peter style.

Have a film night, invite friends along get a Have a film night, invite friends along get a DVD and watch, get a musical and sing-along.DVD and watch, get a musical and sing-along.

Have a theme round the film “Rocky Horror Have a theme round the film “Rocky Horror Show” It’s you party!!!!Show” It’s you party!!!!

Share food get together around a friends Share food get together around a friends house, all bring something or make something house, all bring something or make something to eat! Try baking! You never know.to eat! Try baking! You never know.

Families Continued!Families Continued!

Do outings in groups with friends, the Do outings in groups with friends, the movies or a theatre night.movies or a theatre night.

Go for a group walk, or go swimming Go for a group walk, or go swimming at the local pool.at the local pool.

Remember talk it over, share ideas, Remember talk it over, share ideas, the more fun the better.the more fun the better.

Things to do on your own!Things to do on your own!

Yes you can have a good time on your own! Yes you can have a good time on your own! Watch a film that makes you laugh.Watch a film that makes you laugh.

Listen to your favourite music.Listen to your favourite music. Pamper yourself with a nice long soak in bath Pamper yourself with a nice long soak in bath

salts.salts. Relax and don’t get stressed, do things that make Relax and don’t get stressed, do things that make

you chill.you chill. Eat your favourite food, treat yourself to a Eat your favourite food, treat yourself to a

selection box.selection box. Make the house look Christmassy, get a wee Make the house look Christmassy, get a wee

theme going.theme going.

Stay Clean; Stay Sober.Stay Clean; Stay Sober.

The final ghost you might have to tackle, The final ghost you might have to tackle, plan to beat this.plan to beat this.

Take a friend who will stay sober and ask Take a friend who will stay sober and ask them to get you to leave if you are going them to get you to leave if you are going to drink at a party.to drink at a party.

Be in a safe place where people respect Be in a safe place where people respect you and not encourage you to drink or you and not encourage you to drink or take drugs.take drugs.

Take your own soft drinks with you.Take your own soft drinks with you.

Your in Charge This Your in Charge This Christmas!Christmas!

Plan your visit, tell people you have to be Plan your visit, tell people you have to be away early.away early.

If you feel that someone might be at a party If you feel that someone might be at a party that might upset you or tempt you to drink that might upset you or tempt you to drink or take drugs, it really is best to avoid the or take drugs, it really is best to avoid the partyparty

Remember you might have changed, but Remember you might have changed, but people at the party might not havepeople at the party might not have

Remember you stay in control.Remember you stay in control.

General HintsGeneral Hints

Have enough food in the house and plan Have enough food in the house and plan for the shops closing.for the shops closing.

Have food that can last over a few days, Have food that can last over a few days, chicken!chicken!

Make soup keep it in the fridge this will Make soup keep it in the fridge this will last a good few days.last a good few days.

Make sure you have your medications as Make sure you have your medications as well as stocks of the cold and flu remedies well as stocks of the cold and flu remedies that we all need at this time.that we all need at this time.

Don’t forget some fruit and veg!Don’t forget some fruit and veg!

Finally!Finally!

We could rant on, but the advice is:We could rant on, but the advice is: Plan:Plan: Get Key Dates:Get Key Dates: Find things to do:Find things to do: Talk with family and friends:Talk with family and friends: People care, but look after yourself.People care, but look after yourself. Christmas can be a good time, try and make this so, for Christmas can be a good time, try and make this so, for

yourself. yourself. Be strong, if you have a problem, seek support, visit a Be strong, if you have a problem, seek support, visit a

support group: NA or AA.support group: NA or AA. Have yourself a very merry Christmas! One that you are in Have yourself a very merry Christmas! One that you are in

control of.control of.

Resolutions:Resolutions:

These are personal & individual but These are personal & individual but can I be so bold as to suggest.can I be so bold as to suggest.

Find out more about Naloxone, you Find out more about Naloxone, you could save a life.could save a life.

Join the growing Recovery Movement Join the growing Recovery Movement in Perth & Kinross. We are developing in Perth & Kinross. We are developing a Recovery Forum, get your voice a Recovery Forum, get your voice heard.heard.

If you have a Smart Phone get the U-If you have a Smart Phone get the U-Turn App! It can save a life.Turn App! It can save a life.