'When we recover loudly we keep others from dying quietly' - Yorkshire drug and alcohol service showing people there is a way out of addiction

“Recovery turns into freedom and a way out of that,” one man says. That such recovery is possible and achievable is what a new film shining a light on drug and alcohol services in Doncaster hopes to demonstrate.

New Beginnings is the work of filmmaker Rajnish Madaan, who grew up in the city. In 2022, he was granted access to Aspire Drug and Alcohol Services, an organisation with helps people with drug and alcohol problems and their families to beat their addictions, and go on to lead fulfilling and independent lives within their communities.

“I didn’t know enough about addiction and what it was," says Raj, who runs Madaan Media. “And I thought there’ll be a lot of people out there who know nothing and there’ll also be a lot of people out there who may need help and don’t know where to start.”

When he pitched the idea for the film, Stuart Green, manager at Aspire, was only too willing. “My interest was to try and destigmatise [addiction] because I think stigma can keep people away from getting help," Stuart reflects.

"What we’re seeing is people ending up in A&E and the hospitals with liver problems or complex physical health. Or we’re ending up filling in our jails with people who have got addiction issues. We’re never going to arrest our way out of this - we need to offer help and rehabilitation.

"[The film] was an opportunity to try and connect with the community of Doncaster and further afield…If we shine a light [on the services available], people can get help and turn things around before it costs them their lives ultimately or their freedom.”

“What we would like to see is more people presenting earlier on,” he adds, “so we can help them before they get in a real mess.”

Like several of Aspire’s staff, Stuart is in recovery himself. He spent time in residential rehabilitation in Notting Hill, London, at around the time of the turn of the millennium.

Speaking in the film, he says: “Today I’ve been longer in recovery than I have been in active using, which I find fascinating.

"That active addiction has made me who I am today. I had a good childhood, a lot of things were really positive. I can’t pin it down and say this was the cause of it.

"But throughout school no one ever taught you about feelings…and a lot of people react on feelings.

"You see it even in recreational alcohol use, people celebrate with alcohol, people use alcohol when they’re depressed.

"It’s a logical response to an unhelpful feeling and some people get stuck in that and I was stuck in it.

"Some people will use stuff and then move on and they get over it. Some people get stuck and never move on. I think that’s when it becomes a downward spiral.”

Stuart started volunteering at his rehabilitation centre and later undertook counselling qualifications, before joining Aspire in Doncaster.

The partnership organisation set up by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and registered charity The Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS) runs services including peer mentoring, specialist prescribing, life skills training, and talking therapies. It also has inpatient detox beds through its New Beginnings programme.

Raj’s film, which was funded by a coronavirus Additional Restrictions Grant awarded during the pandemic, showcases its work, as well as the annual recovery games, which celebrate people recovering from a drug or alcohol dependency.

This September is the tenth anniversary of the event, the key message of which is that there is a way out of addiction.

"It inspires everyone including family and communities that recovery is possible and closer than you think,” says Stuart. “I love this quote ‘When we recover loudly we keep others from dying quietly’.”

Raj’s documentary will be show at CAST Theatre in Doncaster on September 12, ahead of this year’s games on September 16.

There will be a question and answer session with Raj, Stuart and Neil Firbank, who also works for Aspire, as well as networking opportunities.

"It’s about saying there is another way through this,” Stuart explains. “What’s really important is that we demonstrate that recovery is possible and achievable and people understand they can have a future free of substances.”

“I hope it helps to break down barriers around addiction,” he adds, “and helps to make people understand it can happen to anyone but that help and recovery is always possible.”

For Raj, the film is about imparting the knowledge he has learnt about the nature of addiction and the process of recovery.

“Reach out, that’s the message the film has,” he says. “Subsequently people have found a life they never thought they could have.”

As one man in the footage says: “Just taking that first step in itself is an achievement, just to ask for help. And by doing that, there’s so much more to be had.”

Two showings of New Beginnings will be held at CAST Theatre on September 12, the first at 3.30pm and the second at 5.30pm.

Tickets are available for a donation with all of the money raised going to support this year’s recovery games, which will be held at Hatfield Outdoor Activity Centre, Doncaster on September 16.

For tickets, visit bit.ly/NewBeginningsFilmLaunch. To watch the film online, visit youtu.be/D1OcHoK1KKQ