Polish-language addiction meetings offered to Central and Eastern European people living in Highlands
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POLISH-language addiction meetings are now being offered to several thousand Central and Eastern European people living in the Highlands.
Pawel Wyderka (39) runs the SMART programme both in person and online on a voluntary basis.
Under government guidance, adult addiction meetings can still take place under strict precautions during the Covid restrictions.
Mr Wyderka, who is also a city taxi driver, said: “During the last two decades, many migrants from Central and Eastern Europe, mainly from Poland, have come to Inverness and the Highlands, creating a community of several thousand here.
“Unfortunately, some of them brought their old habits to their new life and still suffer from the inability to free themselves from addictions.
“I myself moved to Inverness from Poland about ten years ago. Knowing of the less helpful elements of the lifestyle of my compatriots and sharing the experience of being a migrant with them, I wanted to help those most in need.”
He continued: “I am currently a counsellor and have achieved a diploma from the University of Highlands and Islands in Inverness.
“During my studies, I found out about SMART recovery. Recognising the effectiveness of this programme, I become a volunteer and completed the facilitator course.
“SMART Recovery is a mutual support meeting where, through open and confidential discussion, we help each other and ourselves with recovery from any type of addictive behaviour.
“If we have chosen to maintain an addictive behaviour, it is possible that we can choose to stop it. We therefore discourage the use of labels such as alcoholic and addict in our meetings.”
Meetings for the Polish-speaking community are held in the Salvation Army Hall at 20 Tomnahurich Street every Saturday at 4pm. Mr Wyderka also holds online SMART meetings for the Polish-language group every Thursday at 8pm.
