Scots mum once "killing herself with alcohol" now working at rehab clinic that saved her life

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots mum once at risk of drinking herself to deathnow volunteers at the rehab clinic that saved her life.Emma Harrison, from Paisley, was admitted to hospital three times at the start of 2023 after her drinking spiralled out of control and isolated her from her family.At her lowest point, the 43-year-old had developed alcohol-related neuropathy which left her barely able to walk, and was suffering from hypothermia.Emma started to drink excessively at age 36, to the point where her kids had to stay with relatives, after not dealing with a series of traumatic events in her life.But she turned her life around after being admitted to Abbeycare, a residential drug and alcohol addiction recovery clinic in Erskine, Renfrewshire.She spent 12 weeks at the facility after arriving in March last year, and later completed its comprehensive aftercare programme, which helps to reduce the risk of a relapse.Emma now spends 14 hours a week volunteering at the clinic and is on track to gain an SVQ in health and social care, which could lead to full-time employment.Bravely speaking to the Record on the trauma that led her to drinking, Emma said: "When I was 16 I came into the house to find my grandad dead from alcohol which scarred me, but it wasn’t until I was 36 that it started to affect me."I always thought I was stronger and didn’t need to deal with things but it caught up with me."I was drinking litres and litres of vodka a day alone in my flat.

I just accepted that was how I was going to die - it was my way out."I would drink in a damp flat in winter without the heating on and the window open because I was getting alcohol delivered through it."Then I ended up in hospital with hypothermia because I didn't care about myself anymore.“