The MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North has toured one of Scotland’s leading residential rehab centres for people recovering from drug and alcohol issues.
Alison Taylor visited Abbeycare in Erskine, meeting key members of staff and hearing about its life-saving services for people in her constituency and beyond.
She spoke to current residents and members of Abbeycare’s aftercare groups about their experiences of addiction, and how they started themselves on the road to recovery.
She also heard from staff at the facility, many of whom have previously been through rehab themselves and now use their experiences to inform their care of others.
Alison Taylor became the new MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North earlier this year. Her visit to Abbeycare was her first opportunity to visit the clinic since her election.
Abbeycare Scotland provides continuous care for people with alcohol and drug addictions all under one roof, offering supervised detoxification and rehabilitation.
Its programmes also include harm reduction interventions, counselling, recovery care planning, family support and extensive aftercare to services help people address the issues behind their addictions.
The centre at Erskine Mains House accepts admissions from across Scotland, including both private patients and local authority referrals.
Alison Taylor, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “I was in awe of all the team who look after the residents at Abbeycare. The skilled staff are committed to providing support, sanctuary and the right treatment programmes to help their clients recover from addictions.
“Having met clients who have recovered, some who are now volunteering, I can say they really impressed me.”
Liam Mehigan, operations director at Abbeycare, said: “We are very grateful to Alison for making time to visit us in Erskine, so we could tell her more about the vital work we do helping people recover from drug and alcohol addictions.
“During her tour of our facilities, she was able to hear first-hand from some of our current clients and those who are now in our aftercare programme about the life-changing impact that residential rehab can have.
“Many of our staff are now her local constituents, so it was great for them to meet their new MP and tell her about the incredible work they do every day.
“Working alongside other specialist crisis and stabilisation services, we believe that residential detoxification and rehabilitation services such as ours can quite literally save lives, reducing the tragically high death toll caused by drug and alcohol misuse in Scotland.”