A BRADFORD addiction treatment centre has revealed that calls for help from people, whose relationship with drugs and alcohol has worsened since the cost of living crisis, have risen in the past three months.
Oasis Recovery Bradford is a residential rehabilitation facility operated by the UK Addiction Treatment Group and treats people from across the Yorkshire region for addictions ranging from drugs and alcohol to gaming, gambling and porn.
It has reported that its admissions helpline is receiving thousands of calls each month from people desperately seeking treatment as their dependencies worsen.
In August, the group received 4,684 calls for help, rising to 4,797 in September and then rocketing up to 5,219 in October, the equivalent of 168 calls for help a day - an 11 per cent increase in just three months.
The rise in calls is naturally increasing the number of people being admitted into the Yorkshire treatment centre.
Last year, Oasis Recovery Bradford admitted 636 people into treatment, a figure that has already been exceeded this year with two difficult months for everyone ahead.
The centre provides 24/7 addiction treatment, care and support, with clients typically staying at the facility for on average 28 days before embarking on their life in recovery.
Nuno Albuquerque, Head of Treatment at Oasis Recovery Bradford, said: “The cost of living crisis has been attributed as being the biggest trigger for anxiety, stress and trauma; emotions that addiction loves to thrive off.
“Unfortunately, people have always turned to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms in life, a behaviour that now more than ever will be exacerbated as living conditions for a lot of people become extremely difficult to cope with.
“If you are struggling, please reach out. Our fantastic team will guide you in the right direction and get you the best help for you.”
The city is one of the first 50 local authorities with the "highest level of need" and so will receive this enhanced funding.
This was decided due to Bradford's drug death rate, deprivation, opiate and crack cocaine prevalence and crime rates.
The total money consists of £1,590,829 for its drug strategy allocation and an extra £148,618 to fund inpatient detoxification.
Oasis Recovery Bradford has a 24/7 confidential online live chat available, or you can call 0808 274 8029.
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