Healthwatch Essex is now moving into the second phase of recruitment for the project, ‘Addiction: Gambling, Drugs & Alcohol’.
We are now looking to speak to people who have experienced drug addiction, which can include prescription medication, or, those who have significant knowledge on the topic.
This comes as concerns have been raised by several mental health and addiction facilities that gambling, drugs and alcohol are being used more due to the impact of COVID-19.
At Healthwatch Essex, we seek to capture lived experiences to create opportunities to shape wellbeing services and policy for people living within Essex.
We believe it is important for professionals to listen to individual stories that people bring of their experience to gather knowledge and understanding on barriers to accessing help. This will enable improvements to signposting of support organisations which can help aid early steps in recovery.
‘Addiction: Gambling, Drugs & Alcohol’ is an engagement project that will be conducted throughout the year, gathering the lived experience of people in Essex and listening to their views on what needs to improve. The findings will be featured in a new series of podcasts and shared anonymously in a March 2022 report.
If you are interested in this project, please contact Renée Robey [email protected]