Alcoholic former GP saved by Salvation Army

A former GP who spent six years of his career battling alcohol addiction, said his life was saved by a treatment centre run by The Salvation Army.

Nicholas Lawrence, 65, said he was at the end of his 40-year career when he "ran into problems with alcohol" and despite several attempts to get sober kept relapsing.

It was only following a stay at the Salvation Army's residential addictions recovery centre Gloucester House in Highworth, Swindon, that he was able to stop drinking and has now been sober for over a year.

He said, despite understanding "an awful lot" about addiction he still kept relapsing, but at Gloucester House he "found faith" and was able to tackle the 12-step recovery programme.

Lawrence, from Cumbria, said he had a "very successful career" as a doctor for 40 years before alcohol became a problem.

He said people think they have their lives "sorted — but [they] don't".

"Professionals are a high-risk group. The type of work we do is highly stressful," he said.

"I tried all the scientific approaches, the psychology, and I understood an awful lot about it. But I was still relapsing."

It was only after he discovered religion at Gloucester House, that he was able to take on the 12-step rehabilitation programme and become sober.

Still registered as a doctor, he now hopes to work in addiction services to help others, including professionals.

Gloucester House is a 13-bed, male-only centre which provides a faith-based rehabilitation programme.

On 11 September, Lawrence joined several former residents at an open house event to share their stories.

Programme manager Maz Hyde said it was a testament to the work done at the centre.

"[The event] was about celebrating recovery, honouring the courage of the men who walk through our doors, and thanking the community that supports us," she said.

"Nicholas's story reminds us that addiction can affect anyone — and that recovery is possible."

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