“MY house was full of empty bottles and I wasn’t taking great care of myself.” These are just a few of the words that a Kelty woman has used to describe her gruelling struggle with alcohol abuse, an ordeal which saw her hospitalised several times due to almost 15 years of excessive drinking.

Diane (not her real name), drank spirits for years after falling vulnerable to financial exploitation and being targeted within her own community. Unable to cope, she turned to alcohol and was in serious trouble before being admitted to West Fife’s new Alcohol-Related Brain Damage (ARBD) Service in February 2014. The service, which is led by community mental health nurses, provides assessment, case management and support to those struggling with ARBD. Individuals who have had problems with harmful drinking and show signs of cognitive impairment can be referred and admitted, where the team works to deliver a tailored support package to help them live as independently as possible.

After being piloted in the Levenmouth area in 2011, the ARBD service was rolled out in West Fife earlier this year and almost 30 patients have made use of it since then.

Since being admitted to the ARBD service, Diane has had daily contact with people who are there to help her as well as attending the ARBD social group. She feels more valued now and is attempting to rebuild the relationships she has with family and friends.

“I wasn’t in a good place when I first became involved with the ARBD service,” she said. “Things were out of control and I really felt like I was on the slippery slope. I was drinking my problems away rather than confronting them and my life was all over the place.

“Since the folks from ARBD service became involved, things have been looking up. I take each day as it comes and I feel much better about myself. I worry that if I hadn’t got their help, I might not still be here now.

“I can’t say that things are perfect or that I won’t have another drink - that would be daft.

“I know I’ve got a long way to go and I have plenty more bridges to mend but it’s comforting to know that there is support there for me if and when I need it.”