A NEW recovery centre for people fighting drug and alcohol problems in Blackbird Leys has had a successful first fortnight, according to organisers.

The MYOX4 service, located on the site of a former tattoo parlour in Knights Road, opened two weeks ago after a six-week renovation.

The service runs from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and offers abstinence-based recovery programmes, advice and support to people in the Leys.

It is being funded by the Lifeline project, which previously ran its Oxford drug rehabilitation service from a centre in Cowley Road before it closed down in March.

But the new centre is thriving, said manager DeeDee Wallace.

Miss Wallace added: “A lot of people have come in. We have had quite a few people walking in wanting to volunteer.”

At present there are two full-time staff at MYOX4, and eight volunteers.

Facilities include a room for groups to meet and an area for people to use computers for education and training.

Miss Wallace added: “We have created a really warm, welcoming space with lots of inspirational art on the walls. It’s a place I would be happy to be; you definitely don’t feel like you are in a drug and alcohol service.”

One main treatment at MYOX4 is the ‘Community Rehab’ programme: an intensive 14-week programme based on total abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Miss Wallace added: “It’s an incredible privilege to work for this organisation. People go from being community deficits to community assets.”

She also defended its location, just off Blackbird Leys Road.

She said: “Blackbird Leys is a very accepting, supportive, tight-knit community. We need to not make people feel like they have to hide away when they recover. It’s part of integrating back into the community.”

When the Lifeline service closed its doors earlier this year, Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East said he was “surprised and disappointed” by the outcome.

This week he said: “This is a well-run programme, which had a significant success rate in East Oxford in helping people turn their lives round, with some really moving personal testimonies .”

Today, an open event is being held at the centre.

* For more information contact the centre on 01865 778163.