Case studies

NDS theme:Communities
Organisation/Region:Sheffield Black Drugs Service/Yorks & Humber  
Who funds it? Communities Against Drugs (CAD) funding
Who can use it? Open access to those in Sheffield
Location: 7 Cemetery Road Sheffield S1 8FJ
Contact Name:Lee Wisdom 
Tel/email:  0114  249 3700   bdp@freenetname.co.uk

Background to the project
This project helps the families of black and minority ethnic drugs users. Sheffield is a city with a diverse cultural mix. The service was set up in response to a needs assessment that showed that black families wanted support and advice that was sensitive to their own culture and communities.

The family support work involves visiting the families of drug users, often in their own homes, to provide help, support and counselling that focuses on their needs, rather than the needs of the drug user (the Black Drugs Service also offers specific help for users themselves).

Confidentiality and sensitivity are crucial to the service since the various ethnic communities in Sheffield are tight-knit and drugs issues are often associated with a sense of shame.

What makes it different?
The project employs people from the five main ethnic groups in Sheffield, in order to ensure that there is an understanding of the cultural issues. It works with families on a one-to-one basis, helping them to overcome the stigma and shame which is often associated with a family member's drug use. It helps family members to understand that their needs are often different to those of the drug-user and allows families to seek help from people who understand their communities.

Quotes
"We make a difference to people who feel isolated and stigmatised by drug use in their families. They often can't talk about it within the family, or feel they need to take drastic action like sending the drug user back to their country of origin. We can help them come to terms with the problem and advise them of other solutions. One Muslim mother was so upset by her daughter's drug use that she couldn't leave the house or discuss it with anyone. We were able to slowly improve things so that she felt able to talk about it and even take a trip to Saudi Arabia for Haj."

Last Updated: 29/07/2003