Case studies

NDS theme: Treatment/Young People
Organisation/Region:  St Annes Shelter & Housing Action, Yorks & Humber
Who funds it?  DAT funded
Contact Name:  Adam Greatwood
Tel/email:  0113 241 1161  drugsproject@stannes.co.uk

Background/what the project does
St Annes is a large project that includes a hostel, education centre and resource centre for the homeless as well as a drugs unit. The drugs unit is a well-established project, offering advice and information on all aspects of harm reduction, counselling, group sessions, complementary therapies, referral to specialist treatment services and a needle exchange scheme.

The needle exchange scheme is offered both at the centre, and on an outreach basis around Leeds City Centre and in a number of estates in outer Leeds. Home visits are provided for those with children or for those who cannot reach the centre. A detox facility is provided in partnership with a GP prescribing service, based next door to the centre. Clients are referred from the hostel and from the needle exchange scheme. 

What makes it different
The project has a number of innovative elements. Training sessions are offered to users, covering issues like safe injecting, overdose prevention and preventing blood borne infections. Users are paid to attend these sessions, and given free food vouchers. Clients are also taken on community safety visits, where they are able to see the danger caused by used needles, and to help collect them.

Quotes
-It' amazing how little knowledge of the effects of injecting many drug users have. In our training sessions many people are shocked by what they learn about the risks of injecting, even though they may have been doing it for years. There are so many myths about drug taking, and we are able to give the facts. 

-It' an eye opener to see users visiting injecting sites: it gives them another perspective when they see the harm that discarded needles can do.-

Last Updated: 29/07/2003