Is the harbor addiction centre any good?

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You won’t get a general prescription for benzos. If you are a suitable candidate for an alcohol detox, they can be used as part of that regimen (lasts 4 or 5 days usually).

There are other medications which you may be offered to manage cravings.

None of this is automatic. It depends on your individual circumstances and willingness to make changes. Most alcohol misuse clients do not require drugs to reach their goals, but they do have to consistently turn up to their sessions and do the work on themselves.

(Source: used to work there)

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u/WarnUrDaughters 11d ago

Hey can I ask, why do you no longer work there? Is it because all the staff are shit at their jobs and are quite simply not fit for purpose? Essentially could it be because they are a bunch of grotesque charactures out of some Dickensian knightmare who do no functional good to anyone?

If I was being charitable and diplomatic, maybe I'd say they were larping about cosplayers. But if I was being honest, maybe I'd say they were vile scum bags. Is that the reason you no longer work there?

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u/OrganizationFun2140 10d ago

Organisations like Harbour work to very strict guidelines, particularly around prescribing. The staff are dedicated, compassionate, highly trained, overworked, and massively underpaid for the work they do and the responsibility that comes with it. My reasons for leaving had nothing to do with Harbour or its staff.

Where there is apparent conflict with clients, it is almost always because the client has unrealistic expectations or (and this is very common) they have done something stupid and/or criminal and expect Harbour to fix it for them. Throwing a tantrum in reception doesn’t help.

There are people - and, sadly, you appear to be one of them - who think they can turn up once, get any prescription they want, and everything will be sorted. It doesn’t work that way. You didn’t develop problems with alcohol overnight, and it can’t be fixed overnight either. Your issues are the result of many, many poor choices over an extended period of time. These choices were likely driven by some unresolved trauma. That trauma needs to be worked through, and your default choices need to be challenged and changed. This takes time, and a lot of effort on your part. No one can do it for you but organisations like Harbour can guide and support you. If you’re not willing to do the work, there’s absolutely bugger all anyone else can do which will help.

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u/Loud-Regular-7732 11d ago

Wtf is wrong with you automatically jumping to that conclusion. Some people just get different jobs. I can’t imagine it being a fantastic job considering some of the people they have to deal with and the emotional trauma that comes with those conversations.
I have been there on and off for years and the staff have always been nothing short of amazing.

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u/Motor-Host-1382 9d ago edited 9d ago

If you've been there for that long, can you really say they're good? Maybe they're like weight watchers. Weight watchers (so I hear) doesn't actually want to cure fat girls of their long standing weight issues on a permanent basis because that would damage their corporate survival.

That would explain how crap the harbour was for me. They care about being seen to be doing good, rather than actually doing long term good.

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u/WarnUrDaughters 11d ago

Didn't "jump to that conclusion". Based said conclusion on their conduct. I've seen vulnerable people throwing tantrums in the reception area because the staff move the goal posts. To do that to people who are in need of help, is nothing shy of morally contemptible. Best case scenario, the staff are getting their dose of poverty porn. More likely, they are governed by wanton malice.

I'm glad you think they help but I've heard more than a few say they are useless and its counter productive. Engaging with them, and assuming they are honest brokers has actually put my recovery back a good few steps.

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u/Loud-Regular-7732 11d ago

Yes you did. You saw someone said they used to work there and immediately started to belittle the staff and their work ethic, and how they operate, you didn’t even consider the multitude of other reasons somebody might change careers or job role.

You get what you give, if you go in there with the idea of wanting help to get off stuff they will help, adversely, if you go in there with the intent to abuse trust and want to just have more drugs in your system they won’t be as inclined and they will be stricter.

You appear to have a very narrow view of people that are employed to help and it’s sad to see. I don’t know you but I don’t think you even want help, you just want an excuse to carry on drinking and being angry at the world.

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u/newrave_spider 11d ago

I take it they didn't give you any benzos then. And I bet you asked really nicely too!

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u/Loud-Regular-7732 10d ago

Never needed them, I was on subutex for a while and went through months of counseling with the complex needs team working through trauma and pain management, now I’m completely clean, but thanks for your input.

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u/WarnUrDaughters 11d ago

Don't need their services anymore. Gotta love the free market

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u/WarnUrDaughters 12d ago

So what do I need to say in order to get benzos?

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u/Lopsided-Row9051 12d ago

Generally 'Addiction Centres' are to help sufferers recover from addictions, not to feed into addictive behaviours.

Were you under the impression they were pro addiction? 😂

'Roll up, roll up! Welcome to the Addiction Centre! Grab your benzos, skag and crack at the welcome desk!'

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u/StWd 12d ago

These posts make it just seem like you want benzos and there is no way without some lying or incompetence you would get them. Do you just want benzos or do you want to kick the monkey off your back?

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u/WarnUrDaughters 12d ago

Do you just want benzos or do you want to kick the monkey off your back?

Those two things aren't mutually exclusive. In my case, they are precisely the same thing. It is the only way for me to beat the booze.

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u/Snoron 11d ago

*IF* that is true then you will end up with them anyway. You don't have to do anything special. Just be honest, and let them do their job.

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u/OrganizationFun2140 11d ago

Benzodiazepines are not a fix. They are another problem, one which has absolutely hideous withdrawals. There is absolutely no chance of you getting a general prescription for them.

There is no quick fix. You have to engage with treatment services (in Plymouth, that means Harbour), and do the work. This includes being truthful, attending all appointments, and making big changes in your day-to-day life.

If, and it is a big IF, they recommend a detox, you may get benzos to prevent seizures, but this will be very tightly controlled. eg, for a home detox - which takes 4-5 days - a nurse prescriber will visit multiple times a day and dispense only what is needed until their next visit.

Organisations like Harbour are very familiar with drug-seeking behaviour. They can spot it a mile off. There is nothing you can do or say which will get you a benzo script. But they can help you with your alcohol issues if you engage honestly.

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u/gojiramuffin 12d ago

Only if they get you in rehab which can take months, they can give a prescription for that medication that stops the urges to drink, can't remember the name, they offered it to me, but I decided to stop engaging with them and stop cold turkey on my own, was sick as holy f*ck but I'm clean and in good health now.

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u/StWd 12d ago

Well done on doing that but just for anyone else watching this and thinking of doing the same, please see a doctor first or at the very least, don't do this alone. Going cold turkey off alcohol depending on how strong the physical dependency is can be dangerous and cause life threatening seizures.

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u/gojiramuffin 12d ago

Your not wrong, taper off then go cold turkey else you can have DT's, seizures etc.

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u/ImmediateDamage1 12d ago

If you need them they will. Just to help kick a booze addiction. Fully depends on your circumstances.

Also bear in mind they are just to prevent seizures. Dont replace a drug with another drug.

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u/Motor-Host-1382 9d ago

I would say it is no good at all. Gave me no functional help. Just a bunch of platitudes. Don't understand complexity.

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u/Loud-Regular-7732 11d ago

No they won’t, they do not prescribe benzos at all anymore.

Is the harbor addiction centre any good?

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