To mark the end of Alcohol Awareness Week, we are sharing the story of Adam Petson, who went from drinking almost every day in his 20s to helping others like him into recovery, both in our hospitals and the wider region.
The 47-year-old works as the building recovery lead and trainee mental health practitioner for Recovery Connections, a non-profit lived experience recovery organisation based in Middlesbrough.
As part of his job, he successfully laid the groundwork for an innovative partnership with our trust’s alcohol care team (ACT).
The Recovery Connections Ambassador programme, which is a 13-week course equipping participants with the knowledge and skills required to succeed as recovery workers, has seen two graduates volunteer on our wards.
Adam, who initially introduced this project to our ACT team along with her colleague, Kat, has a poignant reason why he is so passionate about the programme.
He said: “I had been drinking alcoholically for over 20 years, from the age of 17. I did not foresee a problem with what I was doing for a large proportion of it because ‘everybody drinks right’?
“During the early years, I was drinking to fit in with my peer group. However, the main catalyst came when I had two significant family bereavements in my early twenties.”
For a young Adam, everything spiralled downwards from there. His excessive alcohol consumption led to several physical injuries and he was often in and out of hospitals.
Physically dependent on alcohol for approximately ten years, he then had to continue drinking daily and excessively, in order to reduce the impact of harmful withdrawal symptoms.
He added:
I withdrew from family and friends, my marriage broke down, I lost countless jobs, my home and more importantly, I lost myself. Towards the end, I ended up doing a spell in prison for an alcohol-related offence.”
When he reached 40, Adam was homeless and suffering from deteriorating health. He would often try to quit alcohol, but like many others, finding recovery was a struggle.
But there is of course a silver lining to Adam’s story, as he was fortunate to meet a kind individual, whose own story of recovery began to inspire change.
Adam spent time in the Recovery Connections rehab facility in Middlesbrough, and he has since been sober for more than seven years.
He said: “I have now worked in substance use treatment services for over four years. I graduated with a psychology degree, and then a master’s in trauma-informed practice, while also supporting other students in recovery from addiction.
“However, these things are immaterial compared to my general quality of life and the good relationships I have with most of the people that had previously broken down. I’m happy and healthy and that’s how I measure my success in sobriety.”
Talking about the importance of our alcohol care team in the region, he said; “The introduction of the alcohol care team has been pivotal in the advancement of primary and secondary substance misuse treatment in the Tees Valley.
“Helping to bridge the gap between early clinical intervention and the wider treatment services, the team has created a pathway from hospital treatment to recovery.”
Alcohol care coordinator Jessica Beck said: “People need to understand no one wakes up one day and decides to be an addict.
Meeting people like Adam and Kat and learning more about what they have achieved after battling addiction, which could easily happen to anyone, makes me privilege to be the coordinator for our ACT.
“This also highlights the significance of working closely between primary and secondary care – giving people who are battling addiction the same support and opportunities to achieve a life of sobriety.”
Jennifer Bryson, Recovery Connections deputy CEO, added: “The support our ambassadors have recently provided within the hospital has the potential to inspire the same change that saw Adam recovery from his addiction, several years ago.
“And the opportunity to have lived experience directly on the wards demonstrates a positive, person centred and deeply caring approach to providing support.
“Along with the great network of services in Middlesbrough, including ACT and MACE, people have access to a wealth of expert support in recovery from addiction.”