The following is a guide to understanding addiction and accessing addiction support options. Asking for help can be hard, but no-one needs to be alone with their problem.

Contact Racing Welfare's Head Office on 01638 560 763, for help and advice with any aspect of addiction or exploring help and treatment.

Addiction is very simply…human; an extreme degree of common behaviours. Life for all of us has its challenges. Events can lead us to experience a wide range of feelings such as: passion, pride, stress, boredom, euphoria, rejection, depression.

People often have different ways of managing their feelings and emotions. The following diagram is one way of understanding this familiar process of life:


For most people this is a normal and manageable way of coping. But some can find it progressively difficult to control these behaviours, feeling driven to act on them obsessively and compulsively.

Obsession and compulsion are very normal characteristics, everyone experiences them.‘Focus’ and ‘drive’ can be useful in any walk of life. But an extreme degree of these traits could be understood as ‘obsession’ and ‘compulsion’.

Obsession: Thinking…the domination of thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea or desire.
For example…feeling tense in a social situation, continuously thinking about the next alcoholic drink.

Compulsion: Acting…a strong, often irresistible impulse to act on a persistent idea or desire.
For example…feeling tense in a social situation, intending to limit the drinking of alcohol, but not being able to do so.

Some of us experience compulsion so strongly, it can feel impossible to moderate or control. This is when the consequences of these behaviours can have more and more of a negative affects on people’s lives.

Everyone experiences obsession and compulsion, but to differing extents. Addiction can be seen as one end of this human scale. Just as we all vary in height, some experience obsession and compulsion to a lower degree, and some of us to a far higher degree [as shown in the following diagram]:


We all sit somewhere on this curve. Those at the top [about 8% of us], could be seen as actively addicted to behaviours such as drinking alcohol, using drugs, gambling, eating, sex, exercising, spending or working.

Every industry has its own cultures, values, characteristics, and ways of coping.

As we have acknowledged, some people will struggle to manage certain coping behaviours, becoming dependant or addicted to them. The Racing Industry is focusing support on 5 main areas:

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Gambling
• Problem Eating
• Family Support [for those affected by another’s addictive behaviour]

Racing continues to develop support for addiction, working toward its recognition as a treatable medical issue, and not just as a disciplinary matter. The aim is to help people understand addiction, further awareness of available support options, and how to access them…if they want to!

There a 2 likely outcomes for anyone addressing their addictive behaviour:


There are 3 main approaches to addressing addiction:

Total Abstinence: Aiming to totally stop addictive behaviours;
For those who feel they WILL NOT be able to control them.

Harm Reduction: Aiming to moderate addictive behaviours;
For those who feel they WILL be able to control them.

Safer Using: Aiming to minimise the immediate dangers of using;
Needle exchange, blood borne virus screening, etc.

After considering which approach is most likely to succeed, the next step is to explore the 2 main areas of support: Professional Treatment Services and Self-help Groups.

UK treatment services are grouped into 4 tiers. Each tier offers a higher level of support than the previous one, with Tier 4 offering the most comprehensive level of service:

Tier 4 example: approach: offering:	Structured Residential Programmes Residential Treatment and Rehab Centres Total Abstinence│Harm Reduction [daily, 6 to 26 weeks] detox, group therapy, 1 to 1 counselling, aftercare
Tier 3 example: approach: offering:	Structured Community Programmes Community Treatment and Rehab Centres Total Abstinence│Harm Reduction [daily, 6 to 12 weeks] detox, group therapy, 1 to 1 counselling, aftercare
Tier 2 example: approach: offering:	Open Access: basic addiction treatment Community Drug and Alcohol Services Total Abstinence│Harm Reduction│Safer Using [weekly or monthly, mid term] assessment, support, scripting, 1 to 1 counselling, referral up tiers
Tier 1 example: approach: offering:	Healthcare Services: non addiction specialist services GP's, Hospitals, A&E, Pharmacies Total Abstinence│Harm Reduction│Safer Using [individual times, short term] support, advice, information, referral up tiers

Contacting a professional treatment service for help or information can feel quite daunting, but they are there to help in whatever way they can.

FRANK: To find professional treatment services across the UK, and for straight forward information about substances, call or go online to 'talk to frank'.

Online Helpline	www.talktofrank.com 0800 77 66 00

Contacting services: Having identified a treatment service, simply give them a call.

What to expect initially: Treatment services are not there to judge, only to assess people’s needs and to offer the most appropriate support. They will aim to arrange an assessment as soon as possible. Assessments can be scheduled for a matter of days, but demand on the service may mean it could be a week or so.

What to expect next: From then on the treatment service will work with the individual to meet their treatment needs.

The most common form of self-help is ‘12-Step’, run and attended by people living free from addiction. Success lies in the support and identification from others in the same situation.

AA	Alcoholics Anonymous│problem drinking 0845 7697 555│www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
GA	Gamblers Anonymous│problem gambling 0207 384 30 40│www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
NA	Narcotics Anonymous│problem drug use 0300 999 12 12│www.ukna.org
OA	Overeaters Anonymous│all forms of problem eating 07000 784 985│www.oagb.org.uk

'Recovery’ can be seen as adopting new and affective behaviours to manage life’s feelings. It’s challenging, but absolutely possible.

There are no musts, the Racing Industry simply offers support, information, and proven approaches. Embracing the following suggestions is likely to increase the odds of anyone successfully addressing their addiction.

• Ask for help Reaching a sound outcome alone is unlikely.
• Keep an open mind Initial suggestions can feel uneasy.
• Explore all of the options Don’t rule out any support.
• Be realistic about which approach to take Be honest.
• Detox There can be health risks, seek medical advice.
• Take action Be prepared to go to any lengths.
• Learn from other’s recovery This has unequalled value.
• Make recovery a life priority Instead of addiction.
• Talk Behind most addictions are unaddressed issues.
• Everyone deserves to live addiction free Everyone!

Thinking about taking positive action can feel overwhelming, but addictive behaviour can be destructive. If it’s clear that this is the case, exploring recovery can be a life changing option.

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The most successful way to find and keep recovery is with regular ongoing support.

Racing’s two main charities are working together to provide ongoing support for anyone in the industry with addiction issues. Call or go online for help and advice with any aspect of addiction:

Racing Welfare 01638 560 763 www.racingwelfare.co.uk Supports all of racing's people who may be in need, through accident, illness, age or misfortune.

Injured Jockeys Fund 01638 66 22 46 www.ijf.org.uk Assists jockeys [their spouses, or dependants] who have suffered through injury, or are unable to ride.

'If you or someone you know is suffering from any form of addiction, Racing can help. Asking for help can be hard, but no one needs to be alone with their problem’.
Stable Groom of 30 years, now in recovery from addiction.