Local leaders learn about Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery service for people with drug and alcohol problems

Launch of Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery service for people with drug and alcohol problems

Tony Lloyd MP for Rochdale, Councillor Sara Rowbotham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing Rochdale MBC, Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader Oldham MBC and Lord Victor Adebowale were some of the guests who attended the launch of Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery (ROAR) hosted at St Chad’s Court in Rochdale and 5 Greaves Street in Oldham on Friday 15 February.

The service, which is delivered by national social enterprise, Turning Point, supports those living in Rochdale and Oldham with drug and alcohol problems through free confidential advice, information and a variety of treatment options at its two hubs, in community venues and online.

Support available at ROAR includes recovery workshops, substitute prescribing for detoxification, community detox, shared care, peer mentors and the facilitation of residential rehabilitation.

Jointly commissioned by Rochdale Borough Council and Oldham Metropolitan Council, over 200 people have successfully completed treatment at ROAR since April 2018 and there has been a 2% reduction in drug related deaths in each borough.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of Turning Point, Lord Victor Adebowale praised the staff at ROAR for their tireless work to get the service up and running swiftly and visible progress of the partnership working to create a community in which recovery can flourish.

Cllr Rowbotham echoed Lord Adebowale’s praise of multi-agency working across GPs, mental health, alcohol liaison teams and rough sleeping and emphasised the importance of prevention and early intervention to address the wider issues related to substance misuse such as health and wellbeing, public safety, crime and employment.

Gary Oulds, Operations Manager at Rochdale and Oldham Active Recovery (ROAR), said: “It was great to welcome local leaders from both councils and other members from community partners to our official launch and share how we are supporting individuals, and families of individuals in the area who require support for substance misuse issues.

“Since taking over the contract last April, we are really proud of the collaborative working between ROAR and numerous local partners working across public health, mental health and homelessness support services to create a more joined up support network for the residents of Rochdale and Oldham.”

Cllr Sara Rowbotham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Rochdale Council, said: “We know that drug and alcohol use affects the well-being of families, causes health problems and is a major contributor to domestic abuse and crime.

“It was great to see how ROAR is supporting local residents by offering a versatile and flexible service tailored around individual needs.”

Liam Dickinson, a local resident who has used the drug and alcohol treatment service said: “I would like to express my gratitude to a very helpful service that has helped me turn my life around where no-one else could, and I have rebuilt positive relationships with my family and son. Big thanks to the helpful staff at Turning Point”

Tony Lloyd MP for Rochdale said: “Too many lives are devastated by drug and alcohol misuse. Substance abuse requires practical help and that is what turning Point provides and its record speaks for itself. But it is building new lives and new futures that really counts and that is what Turning Point is here to do.”