Cambridgeshire's Brain Chemistry Workshop Feedback

In Cambridgeshire our Training Lead Lucas has been delivering a range of training sessions and workshops aimed at increasing knowledge around addiction and in particular Brain Chemistry for service users family members and professionals.

In the training we cover what actually is “Addiction” and what does knowledge of brain chemistry tell us about it?

The session gives participants the opportunity to understand more about:

• How “addiction” influences wants/ needs
• Humans being hijacked by chimps
• How addiction is a hijacker too! (messing with brain chemicals)
• A theory of addiction
• The role of key brain chemicals/ parts of the brain in addiction

---

Here are some of the comments from those who attended:

"Excellent source of learning, educating service users about brain chemistry in an understandable way. Definitely would/will come back. Invaluable."

"A very interesting and significant example of how addiction is extremely powerful. Lucas discussing the monkey in us that can be impulsive and bad is a very good point. I’ve learnt a lot today. Thank you."

"Found very interesting but a lot drug related which doesn’t apply to myself. Yes I would like to carry on attending and finding out more as I feel it will help in my addiction to alcohol. Acupuncture OK to relax and found seeds quite useful."

"Enjoyed every minute, you can  never stop learning. Makes me realise who I am."

"I think it was good because it really gave me more understanding which I think will help my recovery."

"Too much drug related"

"Made me aware of why I get cravings and how to deal with them and that they don’t last. They will and do pass. I will be able to cope better in my recovery with this extra information on the brain working."

"I think the information should be compulsory to all health professionals."

"Mainly part one was to do with drugs so I could not relate to it. Second part was much better makes you think about triggers and how to cope/notice them."

"Interesting talk, thank you. Thinking about the chimp paradox will be useful. Will get the book. Also understanding how returning to the same behaviour is so strongly influenced our brains has been useful."

"It has so far helped me to see where I am going wrong with my alcohol addiction. I think the session is full of useful information and I will be attending the next session."

"The group was very interesting and informative. I would like to attend the second group. I love all my groups, they give me lots of support and encouragement."

"I felt it was a worthwhile group very clear and constructive information. I will be attending again in the future"

"Loved this session"

---

We are really pleased that this session has been so well received. We decided to do this type of training as people were asking for more understanding of addiction. It’s great that it has met this need and we will continue to offer this and other workshops like it.

There were pieces of feedback that I wanted to respond to:

1. "Too much drug related"

2. "Mainly part one was to do with drugs so I could not relate to it. Second part was much better makes you think about triggers and how to cope/notice them."

Thank you for these comments. We try to link the issue of addiction to what we provide our treatment in. we believe that the issue is behaviour based but recognise that for some it is more difficult to make the link.