Councillor Philip Workman visited Abbeycare in Minsterworth to hear first-hand from staff about the life-changing services and support they provide.
He spoke to current residents and members of Abbeycare’s aftercare groups about their experiences of addiction, and how they started themselves on the road to recovery.
He also heard from staff at the facility, many of whom have previously been through rehab themselves, and now use their experiences to inform their care of others.
Abbeycare Gloucester provides continuous care for people with alcohol and drug addictions all under one roof, offering supervised detoxification and rehabilitation.
Its programmes also include harm reduction interventions, counselling, recovery care planning, family support, and extensive aftercare to help people address the issues behind their addictions.
Anyone who would like to find out more about Abbeycare and the services it provides is welcome to visit on Wednesday, April 2, when the centre is holding an open day.
Set in the tranquil grounds of Hygrove House, the centre accepts admissions from across England and Wales, including both private patients and local authority referrals.
The facility can accommodate up to 31 clients in its 26 standard ensuite rooms and five larger executive suites, which have panoramic views of the Gloucestershire countryside.
There is also a large relaxing lounge, conservatory, and extensive gardens, as well as a fitness suite and daily menus to cater for individual dietary requirements.
Laura Morris, registered manager at Abbeycare Gloucester, said: “We were very happy to welcome the Mayor to our centre in Minsterworth to tell him about the important work we do supporting people in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.
“During his tour of our facilities, he was able to hear first-hand from some of the people we treat about the life-changing impact that detox and rehab services like ours can have.
“Many of our staff live locally, so it was also helpful for them to meet one of their local representatives and talk about their own experiences on the front line.
“We believe that residential rehab has a key role to play in reducing the number of people dying in England and Wales due to drugs and alcohol use, and our door is always open to anyone who would like to seek help.”
Philip Workman, the Mayor of Tewkesbury Borough, said: “Abbeycare provide a valuable community resource. The impact of dependency and misuse has far-reaching consequences on society.
“Supporting those who are committed to their recovery, as Laura and the team do, will help not only those people themselves but their friends and family around them too.”