Drug users climb road to recovery with British Military Fitness
Former drug users in central London are being helped to get their lives back on track through military style exercise and have now completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge
The three men and one woman climbed the UK’s three highest peaks in 24hours as part of a programme run by British Military Fitness (BMF), an organisation of serving or former members of the Armed Forces.
The programme is aimed at boosting the confidence of people previously dependant on drugs and putting participants through their paces as they rebuild their lives and leave drugs and alcohol behind them.
John *, who is a former rough sleeper and was a regular crack user, was one of the group who successfully climbed the three peaks. “I’ve gained so much from this” he said. “I’m a lot healthier and feel so much better in myself. I’ve climbed the three biggest peaks in Britain and now I feel I can do anything and really move on with my life.”
Since joining BMF he has found a new home, trained to become a fitness instructor and is completely abstinent from drugs.
Becky*, 50 is a former crack cocaine user but with the help of the scheme has been clean for four months and is now studying maths and English in college. On completeing the challenge she said: “It keeps me busy and physically it makes me fitter. I used to take crack cocaine but have been clean for 4 months now. After I finish exercise my mind is clear and because I am busy I don’t miss my old friends. I’m now at college and would like to teach people who are illiterate to read and write.”
The BMF Community Scheme is a joint venture funded by Westminster City Council and provided by health and social care organisation Turning Point.
Cllr Daniel Astaire, Westminster council’s cabinet member for adults services and health, said: “People who have been dependent on drugs or alcohol face a number of difficult issues when rebuilding their lives and establishing themselves back in the community.
"This scheme provides a new way for them to get their lives back on track and build their self-confidence and independence while also providing structure in their daily lives and a sense of belonging to a supportive group.”
David Parkinson, a substance misuse worker for Turning Point, says he has noticed a "huge decrease" in the use of drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine since service users began attending the tailored training sessions with BMF.
“The natural high of endorphins through exercise takes away the need to use stimulants like crack cocaine”, he said.
"Some of the people we support were using drugs every day before we began engaging with them. They were caught in a vicious cycle of drug use, but BMF has given them a routine, and a purpose. They have been able to cut down or completely stop their drug use and begin to rebuild their lives.”
-ENDS-
*Name has been changed.
Media requesting further information should contact Cherie Willers on 020 76411886 or email cwillers@westminster.gov.uk
Sarah Creighton at Turning Point Press Office on 020 7481 7632
www.turning-point.co.uk
Notes to editors
· Turning Point is a social enterprise providing health and social care services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems or those with a learning disability. For more information, please visit www.turning-point.co.uk
· Turning Point has been providing personalised, outcome-focussed drug and alcohol misuse services for more than 40 years. As a leading national provider, Turning Point runs integrated, abstinence-based recovery services across the full range of drug treatment interventions, both within the community and through the criminal justice system.
· British Military Fitness was founded in 1999 and is the UK's leading outdoor fitness provider. It has 7000 members and runs outdoor military fitness classes in 54 venues across the UK. Visit www.britmilfit.com for more information.
· The BMF scheme is funded by Westminster's DAAT and rough sleeping team, and provided by Turning Point's South Westminster Drug and Alcohol Service. Sessions take place twice a week for one hour with an average of 5 clients per session. Since opening their Westminster service in November 2010, Turning Point have provided 420 hours of BMF interventions.
· The service users completed the Three Peaks Challenge on 03-04 Sept 2011. The National Three Peaks Challenge is a mountain-endurance challenge in Great Britain, with a history of over 40 years, in which participants attempt to climb the highest peaks of each of the island's three countries in 24 hours. The mountains climbed, in order of elevation, are Ben Nevis in Western Scotland, 1,344 metres (4,409 ft), Snowdon in North Wales, 1,085 metres (3,560 ft), and Scafell Pike in North-Western England, 978 metres (3,209 ft). In all the challenge involves some 42 kilometres (26 mi) of ascent and descent, with total travel approaching 765 kilometres (475 mi).