The Council For Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction (C.I.T.A.)

The Council For Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction was founded in 1987 by Pam Armstrong , a Registered Nurse from Liverpool, England and Peter Ritson an ex benzodiazepine addict also from Liverpool, England but living at that time part of the year in Alicante, Spain and now resident permanently in Spain..
 
C.I.T.A. was set up to support those addicted to benzodiazepines, and also their families and friends.  At that time there was no help available in the U.K. to provide education, support or advice on benzodiazepines (to our dismay very little has changed).
 
C.I.T.A. has both campaigned for more understanding via the media and via training courses for professionals and still continues to do so.  In 2004 the name was changed to Council for Information on Tranquillisers and Antidepressants to reflect the number of people requesting help with these drugs, particularly the S.S.R.I. antidepressants.

C.I.T.A. provides a free helpline open from 10am to pm (British time ) every day of the week including weekends. Telephone No. 0151 932 0102.  This helpline is staffed by trained benzodiazepine counsellors many of whom are ex-benzodiazepine users who have recovered.

A meeting is held locally in Liverpool England on a Monday.  C.I.T.A. runs clinic sessions facilitating benzodiazepine withdrawal in GP, surgeries in the North West of England.

The work of C.I.T.A has been recognised by the National Health in Britain (although it does not provide funding) and Pam Armstrong has been invited to act as a patient advocate in technology analysis meetings dealing with benzodiazepines with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (N.I.C.E.) the government's watchdog advising on good practice.

As  a further recognition of her work Pam Armstrong was awarded a Churchill Fellowship for her work in education regarding  benzodiazepines.
 
Back to Life as well as being the title of the book is also the name of Pam Armstrong's consultancy which provides training for professional bodies and supervision for individuals such as nurses, pharmacists and
counsellors.  Consultations and withdrawal programmes  may be provided by Pam Armstrong.  There is also a support service run by Pam which she describes as a mentoring service.  Pam has also acted as an Expert
witness and has written reports and appeared personally in some legal cases.  Details of these services may be found within the book or on Pam's website www.backtolife.uk.com.