Recovery Month celebrates the achievements of those on a recovery journey to overcoming problematic alcohol or drug use. It also provides an opportunity to remember those who have tragically lost their lives to substance misuse.
SPS is committed to building a culture of recovery within its prisons. The appointment of Recovery Officers and FLMs, the development of recovery cafes and an increasing presence of specialist external partners, are just some of the ways this is being realised.
Recovery Walks are one way of showing solidarity with those on a journey from addiction and this year, every establishment across the Scottish Prison Service estate held one. In the community, the Scottish Recovery Consortium’s flagship event, ‘Recovery Walk Scotland’ was held in Inverclyde on 23 September and representatives from 11 of Scotland’s prisons attended.
Each prison organised their own programme of activities during the month from Naloxone Awareness sessions and Blood Borne Virus (BBV) testing, to drama therapy workshops, Therapets and football tournaments.
Some prisons were also able to secure guests speakers such as Livingston Football Club’s David Martindale and Kevin Neary from Aid & Abet; who both use their lived experience of the criminal justice system to support and motivate others to change their lives.
An important element of Recovery Month is also the opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives to substance misuse. This was marked in a number of different ways including memorial services, writing messages, and hanging ribbons and memorial pieces in the grounds or gardens.
