When Nicola Fisher started group treatment in May 2026, alcohol was playing a major role in her life.
At the time, Nicola reported drinking around three bottles of wine a day.
She joined the programme on 19 May and began looking more closely at her relationship with alcohol, the impact it was having on her life, and the changes she wanted to make.
Over the following weeks, Nicola kept attending the groups and worked on reducing her alcohol use. Rather than trying to make changes on her own, she was able to draw on the support of people around her, sharing experiences and learning from others who were on similar paths.
As Nicola’s confidence and commitment grew, so did the progress she was making. She significantly reduced her alcohol consumption and later moved on to a community alcohol detoxification programme.
Now, Nicola has reached the final day of her community detoxification, an important milestone.
Reflecting on her experience, she said: “The reduction and motivation programme gave me the 3 C’s in life: chances, choices, changes.
“You must make the choice to take the chance if you want anything in life to change.”
Nicola’s next step is attending Routes to Recovery while she waits for a place on the Dependency, Emotional, Attachment Programme (DEAP).
The programme is for people who have achieved abstinence and want to build on their recovery. Led by qualified addiction counsellors, it gives people the chance to explore the personal reasons behind their addiction and work through issues that may still be affecting them.
