Fife dad slams support available to alcoholics as he approaches 13 years sober
Liam Mimnaugh has released a book to tell his story of addiction
A Fife dad has slammed the support out there for alcohols and those recovering from addiction as he approaches 13 years sober.
Liam Mimnaugh is marking his sobriety by publishing a book called Many Places to Save One Life.
The 44-year-old, originally from Lanarkshire but now living in Methil, is using the book to thank the people who supported and never gave on him.
But Mr Mimnaugh has also highlighted how he believes addiction/alcoholism is treated as a businesses where organisations and people are making money out of misery.
After in and out of private rehab around Britain, It took a non-profit organisation in Dundee - run by other alcoholics - to save his life in 2011.
He told Forth 1 News "The two people who ran it got a small salary and were alcoholics.
"We had our own freedom and all that they asked is that we attended AA two times a week.
"There were loads of times I wanted to leave, but I had other alcoholics who talked me out of it and that worked vice versa. It'll be thirteen years next month that I got sober.
"Now, because there was nothing out there for me and there's still nothing out there for people at the movement - apart from private rehab where they just want to make money off of you.
"These places are run by health professionals - and no offence to them - they aren't taken seriously because they haven't experienced addiction themselves. That is why I found luck at the place in Dundee - they could relate to me - and it was actually human kindness that got my life back".
He continued to explain when his funding for a private clinic ran out in Glasgow he was "kicked out on to the streets" and made homeless.
He added "When I was homeless in Glasgow I was assaulted within an inch of my life. And again, there was no help for me.
The 44-year-old is frustrated at the lack of rehab units that are free of charge and says the majority are privately run to make profit.
Is lived and living experience the best approach?
Mr Mimnaugh believes there needs to be a reform on how people with addiction are supported and treated in the UK.
He wants addiction to be shown as an illness and should be treated that way, same as cancer or a disability can ruin or take a life in the exact same way addiction can.
Alcohol deaths in Scotland in 2022 hit the highest level since 2008.
Statistics from the National Records of Scotland show 1,276 lost their life to drink - up 31 from the previous year.
And, the latest drug deaths released on Tuesday revealed 1,197 people died as a result of suspected drug use last year.
So what is government doing to reverse this?
A Scottish Government spokesperson has said: “Last year we provided a record £112 million of funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships which has helped support pilots of new and innovative approaches to alcohol treatment such as the Managed Alcohol Programme pilot in Glasgow.
“We are working to ensure that people with problematic alcohol use receive the same quality of care and support as others with substance use, and we await the publication of the forthcoming UK Alcohol Treatment Guidelines to further support alcohol treatment in Scotland.”
Is the drug deaths crisis prioritised over people dying from alcohol?
The government statement added: “Reducing alcohol and drug deaths are a top priority for the Scottish Government and we are treating both of these issues as public health emergencies."