A DRUG and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Weston is opening up during the day to offer addicts extra help. Broadway Lodge residential treatment centre in Totterdown Lane is starting up three support groups to offer group therapy sessions to people at di

A DRUG and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Weston is opening up during the day to offer addicts extra help.Broadway Lodge residential treatment centre in Totterdown Lane is starting up three support groups to offer group therapy sessions to people at different stages in their recovery.For 33 years the centre has taken drug and alcohol addicts from around the world. The 60 staff can treat 55 people at a time and around 200 people benefit from the residential service each year.But staff believe more could be done to help people who do not have funding for a residential place or would rather have treatment at a day centre.Peter Smith, head of counselling at Broadway Lodge, said: "We are aware we could be doing more to help the local community."I'm sure it will have an impact. It's a service that isn't being offered locally at the present time and we believe it will be a valuable, worthwhile and very much needed service."The first support group will run on Mondays, from June 4, and cater for people who are still dependent on drugs but really want to get off them.On Tuesdays, starting on May 29, sessions will be held for people in the early stages of recovery and the Friday group will offer support to people who have been in recovery for over two months but would like some extra help.The sessions will promote abstinence and the maintenance of abstinence and will be run by one or two counsellors in the form of a therapy group at the Victoria Methodist Church Hall from 9.30am-4.30pm.Each group will run for two months on a trial period but the centre is hoping to get funding to keep up the sessions.Weston MP John Penrose was invited to Broadway Lodge to hear about the plans after he publicly voiced concerns about treatment centres in the area.Mr Penrose said: "High quality day care is a vital piece of support to help addicts stay on the straight and narrow after intensive treatment."It stops them relapsing, helps integrate them into society and helps make them productive members of society."But day care must be top quality otherwise Weston will continue to suffer from addicts who relapse and turn to crime to finance their habits."To book a place or find out more call 01934 812319.