Real Lives: Addiction expert David McCartney receives top honour for rehab success

Published on Saturday 1 August 2009 11:35

Dr David McCartney, a drink and drug addiction specialist who heads a community rehabilitation programme in the centre of Edinburgh, has received a prestigious honour from The Royal Society of Arts for his work

Dr David McCartney, one of Scotland's leading experts in the field of addiction and the Clinical Lead of NHS Lothian's LEAP (Lothians & Edinburgh Abstinence Programme), has been made an RSA Fellow.

A graduate of Glasgow University, Dr McCartney, from Stockbridge, worked as a GP in an inner-city practice for 17 years before retraining to work exclusively in addictions.

He was, in recent times, a tutor on the Royal College of General Practitioners' Substance Misuse Management course and is currently completing a Masters degree in Drug and Alcohol Studies.

His main interest is in the neurobiology of addiction, and recovery-oriented approaches to treating people with addictive disorders.

In long-term recovery himself, Dr McCartney, 49, believes that, given the right circumstances, addicts and alcoholics can recover.

He said: "Everybody knows somebody who has been affected, and I know from research and experience that people can recover. Therapy, sorting out physical and mental health and rehousing sufferers into recovery communities goes a long way to solving the problem.

"About 43 per cent of the parties we treat are homeless. The consequences of their addiction are very severe, and they often lose family, have their kids taken into care or suffer the breakdown of relationships.

"Currently we have 40 people in recovery, some of who are now looking to go on to university. They could never have done that before."

Dr McCartney, who in his spare time enjoys pottering in his vegetable patch, writing and spending time with his partner, has long been an advocate for choice for patients in addiction treatment.

In 2006, he developed LEAP and was successful in gaining funding for this from the Scottish Government.

In 2007, LEAP was launched as a pilot in partnership between NHS Lothian and drug and alcohol action teams in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

An unknown person nominated Dr McCartney for this RSA fellowship.

He said: "Nominees are not advised who has put them forward and don't get to see the nomination details, so it's all still a bit of a mystery to me.

"When I heard about the Fellowship from the RSA, it came as a great surprise, but I'm very pleased indeed."

Dr Fiona Watson, Clinical Lead, Substance Misuse, and Clinical Director, at Midlothian CHP, said: "In addition to being an extremely respected professional in the field of addiction, David is very highly regarded by colleagues and clients alike, so we were delighted for him.

"He's a worthy recipient of the honour."