Support group’s 40th anniversary

Support group’s 40th anniversary

17 September 2014

A SUPPORT group that has given hope to thousands of alcoholics and drug addicts will host a 40th anniversary celebration this Saturday.

The Friends of Ward 15 was created by former users of the Downshire Hospital ward in 1974 to give comfort and support to patients going through addiction rehabilitation.

Ward 15 first opened for treatment in the mid-1960s and developed its rehabilitation programme in 1971 to help address alcoholism in Northern Ireland where 8,000 people require treatment each year.

Three years later, some of its first successful users formed The Friends of Ward 15, which is now the longest running user group of its kind in Northern Ireland.

With a reputation across the world for its successful recovery rates, Ward 15, which has a Charter Mark for its high standards, is considered one of the best addiction units in Europe.

It provides an advice centre 24 hours every day, while every Tuesday night and Sunday morning up to 200 recovering alcoholics and addicts meet to discuss problems with each other and to give assistance to people suffering from addictions.

There is also a very successful relatives’ support group, which meets weekly.

Due to restricted funding within the NHS, the Friends of Ward 15 fundraise to provide items for the ward such things as washing machines and tumble dryers, replacement televisions, Alcoholics Anonymous literature for patients and a wide variety of training equipment for staff.

The group has also purchased a comprehensive library on the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction and has furnished a family room in the ward which is a safe place for children to play while in the company of their parents.

The most recent purchase was a portable ECG machine used for all admissions.

Mr. Jim Mageean, who is chairman of Friends of Ward 15, has been a member of the Friends group for 26 years.

Having gone through the unit himself in the early 1980s, he said he is one of many people who are keen to help others out of personal gratitude to Ward 15.

“Ward 15 helped me cope and survive and gave me a life,” he said.

“Anything I do through Friends of Ward 15 is done through gratitude.

Members of Friends of Ward 15 also go to the ward on a nightly basis to take patients to closed Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Downpatrick, Ardglass, Crossgar, Ballynahinch, Newcastle and Castlewellan.

When patients are on day leave on Saturdays or Sundays, members go to the patient’s home group to transport them back to the ward.

“We realise that when patients are admitted to the ward they are normally at their lowest, and those that still have families would have a strained relationship,” said Jim.

“We try to nurture the thought that they were not “bad” people, but rather were sick, and with the help of the services provided by both the ward and the ‘Friends’ there is a very good chance that they can get better.”

Celebrating 40 years in Recovery this Saturday evening will be a reunion for former staff and patients.