BBC Host: Beechy Colclough is a trained psychotherapist with his own practice in London's Harley Street. He has treated some of the world's best known people for drug and alcohol problems. His clients have included Michael Jackson, Robbie Williams and Elton John.

Beechy became a therapist after overcoming a serious drink problem of his own. He believes that he was 'born into alcohol' and 'brought up with it'. 'I understand people with drink problems,' he says, 'because I'm one of them.'

In his latest programme on BBC2 Northern Ireland (Digital) Beechy talks to ordinary people about how they cope with the various trauma's and trials life throws up.

Question From Sheila: I have a friend who's an alcoholic and her family always pitches in and helps out with the house and the kids when she's on a tear. I've told them they shouldn't do that...that they're only making it easier for her to drink. But they say they can't stand by and do nothing. Am I wrong?

Beechy Colclough: No she is not wrong and in a way they are right to say they can't do nothing. What the family are doing is enabling her continue because she is not suffering any consequences, so when she goes on the tear, everything is looked after. What the family need to do is make an intervention with her, after the next binge, sit her down as a family, and tell her one by one how they are feeling and they are not going to pick up the pieces. In Northern Ireland there are two very good treatment facilities and the doctors there are very helpful. Essentially, she is being a good friend by showing tough love.

Question From Tom: The children of alcoholics often turn out to be alcoholics themselves. Do you believe that addictions are genetic?

Beechy Colclough: Based on research which has been carried out so far, there is very strong evidence that a compulsive disorder, such as alcoholism, drug abuse etc. is genetically inherited and more and more of the sceptics are coming to believe it is an inherited illness.

Question From LM: Can you ever consider yourself cured of an addiction?

Beechy Colclough: No you can consider yourself in remission from it if you are not picking up the substance or chemical that you are addicted to. However, I have a saying that it is alcoholism and not alcohol-wasm. It is not going away.

Question From Alan: What was the turning point on your own road to recovery?

Beechy Colclough: I was given the chance. I was taken to an AA meeting by two people and they sort of, they stuck by me when I continued not to listen, continued to drink. It then got so bad that I just couldn't continue, so I decided to trust them and put my life in their hands. They put me into a treatment centre. I stopped listening to the destructive side of me and started listening to them and 20 years later it seems that they were right.

Question From Sean: What's the key element to beating addiction...no matter what the addiction is?

Beechy Colclough: The key element is accepting that you have one. You know when something is wrong, by your behaviour because you are doing things differently from other people. Acceptance and then action.

Question From peter BM: You spoke tonight of people striving to get from here to there - and there becoming here. Does this mean here is as good as it gets?

Beechy Colclough: I think what I usually say is everybody is here trying to get to there, and when they get to there, its just another here. I think what I am actually saying it is more productive and important to live in the moment, rather than projecting into the future, when we never really know whether we will have a tomorrow. If I can put it another way, everybody has got one foot in yesterday, one foot in tomorrow, and going to the toilet all over today.

Question From Sinead: How can people with as much money as the stars you treat possibly have problems?

Beechy Colclough: Money can't buy good health. And money doesn't buy happiness, and addiction doesn't have any social or financial class. It's like people with money have the same problems in comfort.

Question From Eoin: Do you think alcohol ads should be banned from tv especially since so many of them are aimed at young people?

Beechy Colclough: I don't know how many young people see the tv ads because they are probably out drinking when they are on. I don't think it will make any difference, its a legal drug.

Question From Jean: Why is drinking still so socially acceptable and smoking isn't? They're both potentially deadly.

Beechy Colclough: In the ratio of people dying, 13 per people an hour die in GB with smoking, someone dies every 10 minutes from an alcohol related illness and I suppose somewhere in there money is involved.

Question From Angela: Could you help a friend of mine who is an alcoholic and lost her Husband through alcoholism 2 years ago. She is desperate. Has tried AA etc but perhaps a rehabilitation clinic might help.

Beechy Colclough: If she is serious about getting well, rehabilitation would help, but it costs an awful lot of money if you are not serious. At the end of the day, if the person doesn't want to stop, all the AA and all the rehabilitation clinics in the world won't help.

Question From Fergie: how do you know if someone you know is on drugs?

Beechy Colclough: The first thing, they behave differently, if they are sweating, if their pupils are dilated, pinned, looking very small. If they are becoming very unreliable, avoid eye contact, if someone is close to the person, is money or other articles going missing, are their eating habits suddenly becoming bad, difficulty getting out of bed, and noticeable mood swings.

Question From Kerry: Do you treat all forms of addictions...like gambling...shopping as well as drugs and alcohol? Is it all the same thing?

Beechy Colclough: Right across the board. I treat people with all the addictions. I treat people who suffer from depression, also see people who are terminally ill. Terminally ill people come to talk about their illness and the people they are leaving behind.

Question From Rob: Is there such a thing as compulsive eating?

Beechy Colclough: Oh yes, compulsive over eating. Absolutely it is the biggest addiction in GB and Ni without a shadow of a doubt. It isn't about the food, its about eating to change your mood. It is for comfort. If you have an addictive personality it turns into something a lot more than that. It's not what you eat, its why you eat it. People think large people are greedy, its nothing to do with that.

Question From Marilyn: Are there personality types more prone than others to addiction?

Beechy Colclough: I think the possibility of someone coming from an addictive mother or father but having said that if you look at a family tree you will find someone who has suffered from an addiction. Its all to do with the person. Chronic insecurity or low self worth. Alcohol gives dutch courage. People are dying with thirst and the Irish are born with one.

Question From A.M.: How much do you think The Troubles have impacted on NI's drinking problem?

Beechy Colclough: I would imagine a terrific amount. Because of the stress and bad feelings. People are drinking to try to get some sense of normality, get some fun and change their lives, it will lead to alcohol problems, no doubt.

Question From Anna: What's your definition of an addict?

Beechy Colclough: Someone that uses a substance, whatever it is and has no control of how much they use after the first one.

Question From Caz: I am desperate to stop smoking .........help

Beechy Colclough: Well you know acupuncture is a very very effective way, plus the nicotine patches. Remember the last cigarette you had... well, you've stopped until you light your next one. It only takes 72 hours for nicotine to get out of the system. No one dies of nicotine withdrawal.



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