Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/recovery-stories-peer-support-for-connection-and-compassion-enabling-recovery-from-alcohol-and-drugs This podcast series shares community empowerment experiences from peer supporters working with Turning Point Scotland in Aberdeenshire helping communities dealing with alcohol and drug problems. Practitioners and peer support workers share how they have used their personal experiences to help at-risk groups supporting recovery from addiction through processes of connection and compassion. Communities play critical roles in public health. The active participation of communities in health services has long been recognised as a pro-equity approach enhancing legitimacy and acceptability of decisions, and furthering trust in public institutions. Community empowerment can complement health systems responses, address health inequalities, and build future resilience. The pandemic severed many, critical links between service users and providers, however, and put extraordinary demands on existing services. There is lack of trust within and between experts, institutions, health care workers, and population groups, who experienced significant impacts. In this scenario, support mechanisms enabling connection and trust relationships require urgent attention. Despite support, there is a lack of practical guidance on how to ‘do’ community engagement and empowerment, especially in the settings and for the populations most severely affected. While health systems are committed to tackling inequalities, connecting with people living with complex lives and needs is highly challenging. Peer support is the process of giving and receiving nonprofessional, nonclinical assistance from individuals with similar conditions or circumstances to achieve long-term recovery from psychiatric, alcohol, and/or other drug-related problems (Tracey and Wallace, 2016). Turning Point Scotland (TPS) provides an established community service bringing together people with shared experiences in safe spaces of connection and compassion. The series is hosted by Dr Lucia D’Ambruoso from the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. © University of Aberdeen 0376083a-436a-52dd-bceb-083f434bd9ea no en Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:07:47 +0000 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:08:27 +0000 https://www.abdn.ac.uk https://img.transistor.fm/nbcTJJOalYsKvMKNZ9gjIQ7uMGSDUXVcyN8iDbN4o4c/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM2ODQxLzE2OTQ3/ODUyNjktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg https://www.abdn.ac.uk episodic Lucia D’Ambruoso This podcast series shares community empowerment experiences from peer supporters working with Turning Point Scotland in Aberdeenshire helping communities dealing with alcohol and drug problems. Practitioners and peer support workers share how they have used their personal experiences to help at-risk groups supporting recovery from addiction through processes of connection and compassion. Communities play critical roles in public health. The active participation of communities in health services has long been recognised as a pro-equity approach enhancing legitimacy and acceptability of decisions, and furthering trust in public institutions. Community empowerment can complement health systems responses, address health inequalities, and build future resilience. The pandemic severed many, critical links between service users and providers, however, and put extraordinary demands on existing services. There is lack of trust within and between experts, institutions, health care workers, and population groups, who experienced significant impacts. In this scenario, support mechanisms enabling connection and trust relationships require urgent attention. Despite support, there is a lack of practical guidance on how to ‘do’ community engagement and empowerment, especially in the settings and for the populations most severely affected. While health systems are committed to tackling inequalities, connecting with people living with complex lives and needs is highly challenging. Peer support is the process of giving and receiving nonprofessional, nonclinical assistance from individuals with similar conditions or circumstances to achieve long-term recovery from psychiatric, alcohol, and/or other drug-related problems (Tracey and Wallace, 2016). Turning Point Scotland (TPS) provides an established community service bringing together people with shared experiences in safe spaces of connection and compassion. The series is hosted by Dr Lucia D’Ambruoso from the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. This podcast series shares community empowerment experiences from peer supporters working with Turning Point Scotland in Aberdeenshire helping communities dealing with alcohol and drug problems. Addiction, Recovery, Peer support, Drugs, Alcohol, Scotland University of Aberdeen podcasts@abdn.ac.uk No Yes 2 2 Di’s Story: Personal transformation and freedom from addiction full 82b79770-3e39-4c4f-aaeb-e707da448193 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c6ceaebb Di Mitchell is lead practitioner for peer support services in Banff, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Di shares her journey from engaging with the service as a client, to becoming a practitioner and professional in her own right and providing services in the Banff area. Di’s peer support work is deeply person-centred, offering opportunities and activities for personal transformation and freedom from addiction. Di shares her perspectives on the benefits and challenges of peer support, including how services are addressing the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, and on the future of the service.

]]> Di Mitchell is lead practitioner for peer support services in Banff, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Di shares her journey from engaging with the service as a client, to becoming a practitioner and professional in her own right and providing services in the Banff area. Di’s peer support work is deeply person-centred, offering opportunities and activities for personal transformation and freedom from addiction. Di shares her perspectives on the benefits and challenges of peer support, including how services are addressing the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, and on the future of the service.

]]> Fri, 13 Jan 2023 12:33:52 +0000 University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland 1490 Di Mitchell is lead practitioner for peer support services in Banff, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Di shares her journey from engaging with the service as a client, to becoming a practitioner and professional in her own right and providing services in the Banff area. Di’s peer support work is deeply person-centred, offering opportunities and activities for personal transformation and freedom from addiction. Di shares her perspectives on the benefits and challenges of peer support, including how services are addressing the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, and on the future of the service. Di Mitchell is lead practitioner for peer support services in Banff, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Di shares her journey from engaging with the service as a client, to becoming a practitioner and professional in her own right and providing Addiction, Recovery, Drugs, Alcohol, Scotland No 3 3 Amanda’s Story: Supporting people in recovery to connect, build confidence and trust full 9d5aca69-065c-411a-a789-0572a10170df https://share.transistor.fm/s/90668492 Amanda Stephen is lead practitioner for peer support services in Fraserburgh, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Amanda shares how she initially engaged with the service during active addiction and early recovery, and how this built and led to a professional role in provision of peer support services. Amanda describes how the service supports people in recovery to connect, build confidence, trust and relationships of loving acceptance through safe, consistent and authentic peer support. Amanda also shares insights of a changing drug and alcohol scene in Fraserburgh, especially with regards to young people, and outlines the potential of the service to respond; through a focus on prevention as well as to provide support for people in recovery.

]]> Amanda Stephen is lead practitioner for peer support services in Fraserburgh, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Amanda shares how she initially engaged with the service during active addiction and early recovery, and how this built and led to a professional role in provision of peer support services. Amanda describes how the service supports people in recovery to connect, build confidence, trust and relationships of loving acceptance through safe, consistent and authentic peer support. Amanda also shares insights of a changing drug and alcohol scene in Fraserburgh, especially with regards to young people, and outlines the potential of the service to respond; through a focus on prevention as well as to provide support for people in recovery.

]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2023 17:11:14 +0000 University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland 2080 Amanda Stephen is lead practitioner for peer support services in Fraserburgh, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Amanda shares how she initially engaged with the service during active addiction and early recovery, and how this built and led to a professional role in provision of peer support services. Amanda describes how the service supports people in recovery to connect, build confidence, trust and relationships of loving acceptance through safe, consistent and authentic peer support. Amanda also shares insights of a changing drug and alcohol scene in Fraserburgh, especially with regards to young people, and outlines the potential of the service to respond; through a focus on prevention as well as to provide support for people in recovery. Amanda Stephen is lead practitioner for peer support services in Fraserburgh, with Turning Point Scotland. In this podcast, Amanda shares how she initially engaged with the service during active addiction and early recovery, and how this built and led to Addiction, Recovery, Drugs, Alcohol, Scotland No 1 1 Kathleen's Story: Addressing stigma and isolation associated with addiction full d980c79c-c4d4-47d3-b7fb-79473b1d1e4c https://share.transistor.fm/s/e243c96b Kathleen Donaldson came to be involved in peer support volunteer services following the death of her husband. Kathleen describes being a peer supporter in her community, and how her work addresses the stigma and isolation associated with addiction that she experienced. Kathleen outlines the breadth of highly person-centred support through peer work, and personal rewards related to belonging, identity, recognition, purpose, improved quality of life and being a valued member of the community. Kathleen provides these services on a voluntary basis.

]]> Kathleen Donaldson came to be involved in peer support volunteer services following the death of her husband. Kathleen describes being a peer supporter in her community, and how her work addresses the stigma and isolation associated with addiction that she experienced. Kathleen outlines the breadth of highly person-centred support through peer work, and personal rewards related to belonging, identity, recognition, purpose, improved quality of life and being a valued member of the community. Kathleen provides these services on a voluntary basis.

]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2023 14:03:52 +0000 University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland 1650 Kathleen Donaldson came to be involved in peer support volunteer services following the death of her husband. Kathleen describes being a peer supporter in her community, and how her work addresses the stigma and isolation associated with addiction that she experienced. Kathleen outlines the breadth of highly person-centred support through peer work, and personal rewards related to belonging, identity, recognition, purpose, improved quality of life and being a valued member of the community. Kathleen provides these services on a voluntary basis. Kathleen Donaldson came to be involved in peer support volunteer services following the death of her husband. Kathleen describes being a peer supporter in her community, and how her work addresses the stigma and isolation associated with addiction that sh Addiction, Recovery, Drugs, Alcohol, Scotland No 4 4 Ashley's Story: Empowering people to overcome addiction full d245ed17-e7d7-4aeb-8748-4b2d9070996f https://share.transistor.fm/s/c4c12108 Ashley Grant came to be involved in peer support through her own journey of addiction and recovery. Following 10 years of heroin addiction, Ashley engaged with and took up peer support worker roles for recovery groups across Aberdeen City and Shire. Ashley’s peer support work promotes acceptance, integration and inclusion, empowering people to recognise who they are and build on their skills and strengths to overcome addiction. Ashley has recently started new work on the uptake of national standards for safe, accessible, quality drug treatment in Scotland.

]]> Ashley Grant came to be involved in peer support through her own journey of addiction and recovery. Following 10 years of heroin addiction, Ashley engaged with and took up peer support worker roles for recovery groups across Aberdeen City and Shire. Ashley’s peer support work promotes acceptance, integration and inclusion, empowering people to recognise who they are and build on their skills and strengths to overcome addiction. Ashley has recently started new work on the uptake of national standards for safe, accessible, quality drug treatment in Scotland.

]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2023 14:03:43 +0000 University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland University of Aberdeen and Turning Point Scotland 2467 Ashley Grant came to be involved in peer support through her own journey of addiction and recovery. Following 10 years of heroin addiction, Ashley engaged with and took up peer support worker roles for recovery groups across Aberdeen City and Shire. Ashley’s peer support work promotes acceptance, integration and inclusion, empowering people to recognise who they are and build on their skills and strengths to overcome addiction. Ashley has recently started new work on the uptake of national standards for safe, accessible, quality drug treatment in Scotland. Ashley Grant came to be involved in peer support through her own journey of addiction and recovery. Following 10 years of heroin addiction, Ashley engaged with and took up peer support worker roles for recovery groups across Aberdeen City and Shire. Ashle Addiction, Recovery, Drugs, Alcohol, Scotland No