Life Church in Aycliffe is offering drug and alcohol detox to members of the community in the coming weeks using a groundbreaking new programme. Life Church has partnered with The KEYS Project, a newly registered UK charity, committed to supporting teams in churches seeking to help people towards freedom from addictions.
The programme, KEYS Community Detox, has three main components, or ‘KEYS’.
The first ‘KEY’ is medical. Clients through their own GP liaises with The KEYS Project medical officer to prescribe the necessary medication for a detox. In the case of a patient already in treatment at a clinic for drug addiction, the KEYS team will work directly with the clinic staff.
The second ‘KEY” is spiritual support. The team will offer a Christian recovery programme using the 12-steps adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. The team will use the well known and established 12-steps within a Christian setting to help the client find healing from many of the issues which are at the root of addiction.
Community Support is the vital third ‘KEY’ to the programme. Having the support of a loving community is a massive boost to anyone seriously wanting to make the lifestyle changes necessary for long-term freedom from drugs and alcohol.
Life Church is one of six churches of different Christian traditions across the UK who will be piloting the KEYS Project, as they work together to help communities around them by offering free weekly sessions that combines one-to-one consultations, group support and practical sessions that help clients examine issues at the root of addiction as well as looking at relapse prevention.
Sheena Stephenson (Manager) and Alwyn White (Coach) underwent specialised training from The KEYS Project. A group of befrienders from Life Church have also been trained to offer community support.
Sheena says “Life Church is waging war on the misery of alcohol and drugs by helping people through the KEYS detox programme.
With more people facing narcotic and alcohol addictions, there is a real need for a personal service that provides practical and emotional support for people. KEYS Community Detox is designed to do just this.
On a personal note I’ve first-hand experience of watching a close relative struggling with drug abuse and the massive challenges it presents. As manager of the Keys Community Detox I am delighted to offer my full support and expertise to people struggling with narcotics and alcohol addictions”.
To find out more on the detox programme, e-mail sheenastephenson@keysuk.org or telephone Sheena 07783 407961
