In this next period, we will be recording a mini-series on addiction starting with this first episode with Specialist Addiction Therapist Mark Dempster. 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, which 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 entire communities and society as a whole. Addiction in the UK affects everyone from loved ones to clinicians and the everyday public.

In the conversation, we examine the five stages of addiction, common cognitive pitfalls, habit Vs. addiction, and Mark's organic story through his lived experience with addiction. We also look at the 12-step process of Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Mark is a specialist addiction therapist and a recovery coach within a Harley Street Counselling Practice. He has witnessed chemical and behavioural addictions both personally and within his circle of family and friends.

Learning the practice of psychotherapy for addiction helped Mark reach out to all types of addicts, from programmes working with prisoners, helping at homeless shelters, and to wealthy bankers from Canary Wharf. According to Mark, the addict’s circumstances varied but their addictions had a lot in common. In the conversation, we also cover:

Defining Addiction & UK stats - The health burden & impact on the individual and extended families
Origins – how people become addicted (habit Vs addiction)
Dual diagnosis
The 5 stages of addiction
The NA & AA 12-step model (origins and application)
Common cognitive pitfalls
Breaking the cycle – different types of therapy (CBT, DBT, ACT, +/- PET for PTSD)
Anecdotal experiences and cases from Mark’s perspectives

You can find out more about Mark here:

https://markdempstercounselling.com/about/

You can find out more about Narcotics Anonymous here:

https://ukna.org

You can find out more about Alcoholics Anonymous here:

https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

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