Drug addiction help group which meets in Leeds helps more people after going virtual

To make sure that members of Cocaine Anonymous can still get the help and support that they need, the regular meetings that were hosted in Leeds are now being done online.

It has led to more people accessing the services from the comfort of their own homes.

Cocaine Anonymous’s face-to-face meetings were shuttered due to governmental guidance following the coronavirus outbreak. It led to a massive effort to launch virtual meetings via online platforms. This way, the 12-step recovery programme has been able to continue to help those with drug addictions and the virtual meetings are open to anyone without the need to pay fees.

The organisations says it has also seen more people, who never came to a face to face session, logging on to get help.

Steven B had attended meetings in-person for less than a year before social distancing was introduced.

He said: “It’s been phenomenal having the ability to connect from my home. Never have I felt more connected to a group of people in my life - hearing stories I can relate to and building relationships with people who deeply understand me through a shared experience. I now have a place to connect with those recovering from addiction not just in my home town but across the world.”

There are three Leeds meetings to replace face to face ones. One is Monday at 7.30pm, Wednesday at 6.45pm to replace the meeting at Armley Park Court and Friday at 7pm instead of Gemini Business park at Sheepscar.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004.

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor