Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center is celebrating 10 years of helping people

Lambeth’s Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center in Harbor is celebrating 10 years of helping people to make ongoing recovery from problem substance use.

The Harbor – Lambeth’s drug and alcohol recovery center at Loughborough Junction – opened with a media fanfare in June 2014, with MPs and council leaders. In 2017, the Government launched its national drug strategy there.

June 2024 calls for the celebration of 10 years of work. Harbor will host an afternoon tea party with guest speakers including Rosanna O’Connor,

Director of Addiction and Inclusion, Office of Health, Inclusion and Disparities and peer mentors who talk about the journey from coming in need of help to becoming Harbor Peer mentors helping others in their recovery or entering in other jobs.

Ruth Hutt, Lambeth’s Acting Strategic Director, Integrated Health and Care, said:

Addiction does not discriminate.

For over 10 years, people who have passed through the Port’s gates have included professional and creative people, people who have suffered trauma and mental health challenges but managed to leave a life of addiction by being supported to gain qualifications, volunteer or to work.

A decade later, Harbor continues to demonstrate how time spent with other people in recovery, with group or one-on-one work, works as a pathway away from addiction. Lambeth is incredibly grateful for the resource at the heart of our community”

Harbor Manager Dawn Brecken says:

Based on at least 25 people coming here every day to meet key workers or work in recovery groups, it must have helped around 25,000 people over 10 years.

Forecasting our next 10 years is not easy. The future may hold unknown drugs. But our main immediate priorities are to provide more training and get more people qualified as peer mentors and to offer weekend and evening opening so that people who have gone through and are working can come back and continue to receive support.

We will continue to adapt to the needs of the community – but we will continue to do what we already do so well.”

Fiona Connolly, Corporate Director of Lambeth: Housing & Adults Social Care, said:

I would like to take advantage of this opportunity at Harbor’s 10^th anniversary to offer our sincere thanks to Lambeth for the amazing dedication and support from the teams working in the Port and across the service to help people complete their recovery journeys.”

More information

• For more about Lambeth Drug & Alcohol Treatment Consortium – the partnership that offers help if you are worried about drug or alcohol use, see https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/lambeth-drug-and-alcohol – service/N10871602
• If you would like help from Lambeth Drug and Alcohol services for yourself, a family member or a friend, complete and submit the form at lambeth-drug-alcohol.co.uk
• to arrange an assessment or call 0203-228-1500
• As part of the offer for Lambeth residents seeking support for their drug and alcohol misuse, The Harbor is funded as a joint initiative between Adult Social Care and Public Health to support people in recovery.

(This article first appeared on Love Lambeth and is reproduced here for informational purposes)