Princess gives royal seal of approval to drug and alcohol project

Published on Friday 25 January 2008 09:27

PRINCESS Anne has officially opened a groundbreaking new drug and alcohol project in the Capital.

LEAP, the Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme, is the first of its kind in Scotland and helps users "get clean and stay clean". The Princess Royal was given a tour of the facilities at Malta Terrace, Stockbridge, yesterday, and heard the first-hand experiences of patients and staff.

The programme, a pilot between NHS Lothian and drug and alcohol action teams in the region, has been running since last September.

David McCartney, clinical lead at LEAP, said the visit was a "great honour" and everybody had been delighted to meet a member of the Royal Family

He added: "She joined a group therapy session with patients, allowing her to hear about their lives before coming to LEAP, and also how the programme is helping them on the road to recovery."

Lee McNair, one of the programme's latest success stories, said: "The Princess Royal was really interested to hear about our lives, what led us to take drugs, how difficult the programme has been and how we are coping since graduating.

"I was really pleased to present her with a posy of flowers. It's been a very exciting day."