Addiction with Mark Dempster

Mark Dempster is an addiction specialist working with patients with drug addiction, gambling addiction, sex addiction, alcohol addiction, internet addiction, and more. He is a counsellor dedicated to helping people regain control and turn their lives around.  In the conversation we look at some of the statistics around the health burden & impact on the individual and extended families, how people become addicted (habit Vs addiction), the 5 stages of addiction, common cognitive pitfalls and finally breaking the cycle. We also explore some of therapies that are evidence based and are commonly practised such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and PET.

In 2013, the Centre for Social Justice determined that the level of addiction in the UK made it the “addiction capital of Europe.” This includes the use of legal substances, mainly alcohol, and the use of Class A drugs, that include heroin, cocaine, meth, and hallucinogens. £36 billion is spent by the nation every year on treatment relating to drug and alcohol abuse. At the time of filing their report, titled No Quick Fix, the UK had the highest rate of addiction to opioids and the highest lifetime-use of amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy across Europe.

Many view addiction as something that only affects the users themselves but, in reality, casualties from substance abuse are taxing on entire communities, the NHS and society as a whole. It has a direct affect on healthcare workers and on the frontline of the emergency services on a daily basis.

Please enjoy this interview with Mark, his clinic and work can be found here:

http://markdempstercounselling.com/