A GREENOCK drug and alcohol rehab centre has been hailed by its boss as the best in Europe after revealing it's had a near 70 per cent success rate consistently for the last 21 years.
Jericho House on Bank Street offers support for men suffering from addiction issues, with the unit able to accommodate 18 residents.
Manager Michael Trail said: "Over the last 21 years we have had 68 per cent of people completing the programme and following our aftercare plan.
"This is unrivalled anywhere else in Europe.
"Of those those who left against staff's advice, only nine per cent sustained total continuous recovery."
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Michael says Jericho - which advocates total abstinence - succeeds where other rehab programmes fail because it tackles the causes of drug and alcohol addiction.
He said: "There are three reasons. We treat the underlying causes - many people have suffered trauma or adverse childhood experiences.
"Secondly when people are in Jericho, they are held accountable and are encouraged to develop drug-free support in the community and cut all ties with their previous drug-linked acquaintances.
"The third reason is that most of the staff have lived experience of addiction, recovery and rehabilitation.
"I am the only person plus [committee member] Brother Tom Quinn who hasn't been rehabilitated at Jericho.
People can spend between seven and 17 months at Jericho, depending on the individual's needs.
Michael said: "One man has suffered complex multiple trauma after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, and he stayed with us for 17 months."
Only last month it was revealed that Inverclyde had the highest alcohol-related death rate in Scotland over the last five years — with another 28 people losing their lives to booze in the last 12 months alone.
Drugs deaths have also soared with 29 recorded in Inverclyde in 2022, up from 16 the previous year.
Despite this Michael is struggling to encourage local people to came to Jericho for help.
He said: "I am at a loss why more people are not coming forward.
"I have had conversations with the manager of the Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Recovery Partnership at Wellpark and she has assured us they are making people aware, although we have had no referrals."
Jericho resident Jordan Myles, 28, was addicted to cocaine, cannabis and alcohol and left Jericho in February, only to return two months ago.
He said: "I started to get complacent, I didn't realise that I was in a protected bubble in Jericho and I fell back into my bad habits.
"I kept telling myself I wasn't as bad as other addicts because I was only taking certain drugs, but I was making excuses.
"I felt better this time coming back because I know where I went wrong.
"I've still got my family. I have two wee boys who are one and three years old - I'm doing this for me but also for them and my family."
Paul Duffy, 27, had been using drugs since he was 15 and says Jericho has changed his life.
Paul - who brought up in an environment where his parents and brother used drugs - said: "My life was unmanageable and I was really depressed.
"Jericho has taught me how to share how I'm feeling and not hold onto stuff.
"You think drugs are the solution but then you are left with yourself and your problems are still there. I want to live a better life."
Stephen Boyd, 39, had been in rehab before relapsing and said his drug addiction had left him suicidal.
He said: "I was miserable and lonely and I felt suicidal, lost my job, access to my kids, my family.
"Abstinence is the best way. I feel there should be more places like Jericho and they should get more funding.
"My message to people is 'don't do it' - it will ruin your life. I've lost a lot of my life through drugs."
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