Blogs Reports

How I was treated as an alcoholic patient


Reported by Karen

Published on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022

Healthcare Access Substance Use
Blogs Reports

How I was treated as an alcoholic patient


Written by Karen

Published on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022

Healthcare Access

Substance Use

The report mentions substance misuse

 

 

I was a regular visitor to A&E, GPs and dentists. I was a real burden on an already struggling NHS, but in my defence, I was in the grips of addiction, I was a lost soul, frightened and mentally unwell.

I have fallen down the stairs knocking myself unconscious, I’ve split the back of my head open, had 28 stitches just above my eye, I have broken or knocked out nearly every tooth in my upper jaw repeatedly, broke numerous ribs, bruised the entire left side of my face falling out of a moving car, the list is endless.

Looking back at the way I was treated, I didn’t have any concerns regarding the medical procedures I received, but the way I was treated as a person was demoralising at times. At a time when I was scared and felt low and all I needed was kindness, I found some staff were judgemental. I’d get looks of disgust and disapproval and some people completely ignored the fact that I existed, and some made me feel that I was in the way.

Nobody seemed to have any knowledge or interest on how to treat alcoholics and I ended up as a revolving door patient for many years. Addiction tricks you into believing it’s not as bad as you think, that you’re in control. It convinces you that it won’t get out of hand next time, it also tricks you that you’ll be able to quit whenever you want.

Addiction is a liar but you only know this when you’re in recovery and even then it’s tapping you on your shoulder. I was never offered any help or advice when I sat in hospitals stinking of booze, blood-stained clothes, I was just stitched up, x-rayed, brain scanned or bandaged then on sent on my way. Some may think this was all self-inflicted and I deserved it but I was clearly insane to keep going back for more.

Nobody asked if I was going home to a safe environment or indeed, how I would get home. Nor did anyone ever ask about my mental health. I’m aware that NHS resources are stretched to the limit but if someone had spoken to me about alcohol abuse, asked if I needed any help or would I like to be signposted somewhere for help, maybe I would have listened and by doing so reduced my accidents and visits to the hospitals.

After all,  the Alcohol/ Drugs are just the symptom. The real problem lies with the individual. It is a mental health issue. Addicts have difficulty living life on life’s terms. We drink or use to cope or block things out.

I wish that all NHS staff were educated about addiction and get rid of that stigma that hangs over it. I hope for the day that staff see the person not the addict, after all we aren’t bad people trying to get good, we are poorly people trying to get better. My aim in reporting is to change people’s perspective of homelessness and addiction which very often go hand in hand and shine a light on the health Inequalities we face due to lack of education and understanding of NHS staff. 

Written by Karen


I'm Karen from Manchester it's great to meet you all. I'm a recovering alcoholic,
I experienced a short time of homelessness many years ago, I'm a survivor of domestic abuse and I'm happy to say I've come through it all.
I volunteered at a local Alcohol and Substance Abuse centre where I qualified as a Peer Mentor.
I now care for my elderly dad who is housebound and I feel blessed to be able and well enough to do this.
I hope as part of this Community Reporting team our stories can contribute to making a difference to homelessness and health inequalities and shine a light on any other injustices we come across.
 

Read all of Karen's articles

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Healthcare Access Substance Use

5 thoughts on “How I was treated as an alcoholic patient

  1. This is a great piece. It will help people realise that they are not the only person being treated like this. I used to think that it was something wrong with me, that it was my fault that I was being treated with contempt

  2. Really interesting article Karen – there’s such a need for NHS staff (and the wider population!) to be better educated on addiction, and like you said to reduce the stigma around it

  3. I used to work with an alcohol harm charity and have shared this on my Twitter – stigma kills and everyone working with people who are dependent on alcohol should remember that.

  4. Very good article. This has happened to me to me in hospital. Shows how pouring shame onto someone who is already drowning in it Does. Not. Work. It makes you feel even worse, and makes any shame based behaviour worse too. Thanks very much for writing Karen.

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