QAAD

Quakers, among others, have been speaking truth to power for more than 300 years.  Quaker Action on Drugs and Alcohol-and gambling (QAAD) has a place in the Faith Groups that, in their particular concern for these matters, continue to speak their truths to our politicians today.

Parliamentary legislation has to take note of all views, with the alcohol and gambling industries strongly represented, before making decisions that affect us all.  What do we have to offer to that process?

Truth is not simple.  It is not a single pearl that can be found and treasured but more a shape that needs to be sought within all the complexities of life.  It needs to be found afresh for each age we live in.

Where do we find the truths for our own time; for our particular concerns with issues of use, misuse and addiction?  When we have carefully considered all the research, all the scientific evidence that we are presented with, then what remains at the still heart is the value of each human life.

How do we help to ensure that the welfare of the young, the vulnerable- and that may at times be any one of us – is considered by those whom we entrust to make decisions on our behalf?

Join us and some of our interfaith colleagues to share perspectives and explore ways forward.

All Friends are welcome, and you are invited to contact Helena Chambers or Woodbrooke if you would like further details.

In July nearly sixty Friends gathered to consider the connections between spirituality and problems with dependency and addiction – and to share their reflections.

The weekend began with an address by Tim James, a G.P. and a trustee of QAAD, who developed some of themes from the 2008 conference. In this address he explored how meditation and spiritual practice is related to the functioning of the right brain, and how this can help resilience to conditions like dependency. Read the text of his talk here.

On Saturday morning Harvey Gillman stimulated our reflections about our spirituality with his address and helped us develop our understanding in group discussion.

Listen to his full talk…

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Text of talk by Tim James at QAAD conference July 2010

Dorothy Rowe , the psychologist and writer, was quoted in The Guardian Face to Faith series recently -

‘Addiction is not an illness, but a defence against a life too difficult to bear.’

Where that ‘tipping point’ seems to be for each of us is very individual.

Dr Patricia Conrod, a clinical psychologist on the staff of the Maudsley and part of Action on
Addiction has developed a programme called ‘Preventure’ that seeks to recognise teenagers
with vulnerable personalities and support them in resisting dependent behaviours. She lists
these personality types as anxiety sensitivity, sensation seeking, negative thinking and
impulsivity. This project has been trialled in London secondary schools and been shown to
have a significant impact.

> Download and read the talk

When I read a new book it usually happens because my interest is kindled by another source of information, a friend , another book, an article so let’s look at what John H Westerhoff, 111 says in his forward to the American edition of ‘The Original Vision’ by Edward Robinson –

‘You are about to read a rare book. If you care about religious education it may be among the most important you will ever read.’

– this from a Professor of Religious Education at Duke University Divinity School.

In his forward to the first edition Sir Alistair Hardy says –

‘This book provides the material for making the spiritual side of man real and vital…It does not deal with the religion of institutions or of theologies, but with the fundamental part of man’s nature, which is especially revealed in the imaginative vision of the young’.

> Download and read Tim James’ account and reflections

QAAD holds a biennial conference at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, which is planned in conjunction with Woodbrooke staff. We welcome all Friends and Attenders; those who have knowledge or experience with addictions and those who simply have an interest.

In 2010 we develop our focus on the links between spirituality and substance issues.  Our theme is ‘Depending on the Spirit’, with Keynote speaker Harvey Gillman

If you would like to find out more about the Woodbrooke Conference, details can be found by clicking here and for further information please visit The Woodbrooke Conference Centre or contact Helena Chambers