According to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, new service users who stay in treatment for 12 or more weeks before discharge have a much higher chance of a successful and sustained recovery.
The 84 per cent, or 150 new adult service users, was achieved in South Gloucestershire between January 2006 and December 2006, which is an 11 per cent increase on the previous year’s figure of 73 per cent.
Emily Edwards, treatment manager for Safer South Gloucestershire’s drug action team, said: “National Tackling Drugs Day is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness of the day-to-day work we carry out in the district to help people address their drug issues.
“We work closely with Safer South Gloucestershire’s Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Services (YPDAS), crime reduction, domestic violence and anti-social behaviour teams, on a wide range of initiatives tackling drug education and drug-related crime.”
Each year, around 600 people in the area receive help and support from South Gloucestershire Drug & Alcohol Services (SGDAS).
SGDAS provides treatment services from premises in Warmley and Yate and outreach centres in Thornbury, Kingswood, Patchway and Cadbury Heath. Substitute prescribing services (Shared Care) are also available at 21 GP practices across the district.
The agency also offers a best-practice scheme for service users during and after their treatment, which addresses their housing, training, employment, education and post-treatment needs. The focus is on integrating service users back into the community – an approach proven to increase the likelihood of people staying drug free.
In celebration of its achievements, and to provide an event for service users and carers, SGDAS is holding a garden party in the grounds of its Warmley treatment centre on Friday 1 June from 12pm to 5pm. (Flyer attached).
The event will bring together employees, service users, carers and the partner agencies who work closely to provide a range of holistic treatment programmes.
If you have been affected by drugs in any way and you need help and support contact the South Gloucestershire Drug & Alcohol Services confidential advice line on 0800 0733 011(free from a landline or telephone box).
ENDS