Exit Strategies - Celebrations

This is the fourth bitesize episode (Bitesize with a pinch of salt) connected to Episode 3 – Celebrations. In this episode we are joined by the wonderful Stephen Buchanan, Peer Support Worker at the Recovery Day Programme ARC Hounslow. I had the pleasure of watching Stephen’s journey from afar, from homelessness to peer support worker. In this episode we focus on Exit strategies and the importance of having them and recognising when to implement them. Stephen and Christoph share their first-hand experiences of the preparations to attending or not attending an event. They discuss the risks posed, recognising the emotional, social and environmental triggers and how to overcome these with a menu of strategies. They explain how to look out for the signs and the multiple options you have available to you should you need to exit. The beauty of this episode is the tools can be used in many unplanned settings too and not just the planned events. For family, friends, residents and professionals, this will be a chance for you consider, how you can offer support to those in need, and be mindful of challenges people in recovery and active addiction face.