Threshold Awarded £0.5 million for ARBI Project

New two-year programme will support people living with Alcohol Related Brain Injury to recover, remain abstinent, and live independently in the community.

Alcohol related brain injury (ARBI) is a serious but often misunderstood condition caused by long-term alcohol use. Research suggests that as many as 1 in 8 alcohol-dependent patients may be living with the condition, which could equate to approximately 35,000 people in Northern Ireland.

Unlike many forms of brain injury or cognitive impairment, ARBI is not degenerative. With abstinence, specialist rehabilitation and the right community-based support, up to 75% of people can recover to some degree.

Funded through a Strengthening Communities grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, Threshold’s new outreach programme will support a minimum of 50 individuals over two years, helping people make the transition from residential rehabilitation into independent living in the community. The service will provide practical and therapeutic support at one of the most vulnerable stages of recovery, when people are at increased risk of relapse.