A VOLUNTARY organisation that supports people with drug and alcohol problems has been given a £1,200 grant from the Co-op Community Fund.

Poole Service Users Forum plans to spend the money on a new laptop computer and training courses for members, all of whom have personal experience of drug and/or alcohol misuse.

The forum, set up seven years ago, has an open meeting every Thursday. Anyone who has been through treatment or is still struggling with addiction is welcome to attend.

As well as advising and supporting people in the Poole treatment process, the forum also advises local and national agencies.

Chairman Steve said there had been a decline in opiate addiction in Poole and an increase in the use of legal and illegal “highs”.

“Drug taking and alcohol consumption are never going to go away, but people seem more aware. The services are there if they want help. It took me until I was 38 to admit I was an alcoholic. I’m 42 now.”

Although Steve has been sober for the last 20 months, he admitted: “Every day is a battle. I just know the consequences of me picking up a drink – I just wouldn’t stop.”

Despite sinking between 30 and 60 units of alcohol a day at his worst (the lower risk guidelines for men are three to four units – about a pint of strong lager, beer or cider), Steve managed to continue working.

“I lived like a homeless person in a flat. I used drugs but always went back to alcohol. My sole aim most days was to knock myself out. I tailored my life around drinking.

“One of the biggest problems with substance misuse is the stigma that goes with it. The old view is that if you are addicted to a substance, you’re a bad person, you’re weak. Addiction is addiction – some substances are legal and some aren’t.”