Case studies
Back to previous pageYoung People's Treatment Service for Class A Drug Users
Young People's Treatment Service for Class A Drug Users
Name of Project: YOUNG PEOPLE'S TREATMENT SERVICE
NDS theme: Young People/Treatment
Organisation/Region: Norfolk Social Services, Eastern
Who funds it? Pooled treatment budget and other contributions
Contact Name: Rick Andrews
Tel/email: 01603 877480 rick.andrews.socs@norfolk.gov.uk
Background/what the project does:
A class A drug users service aimed mainly at those under 20 with complex drug and mental health problems. It covers the whole county, providing specialist treatment for users who are either referred by other professionals or self-referred.
The team have developed the service within a social care framework, rather than a solely medical context. It is hosted by social services and the team consists of secondments from social services, voluntary sector drugs agencies, the Youth Offending team and a nurse from a mental health background. This multi-disciplinary approach means the service is very flexible. Two psychiatrists are attached to the team, one specialising in addiction and the other in child and adolescent mental health.
The service travels to the clients, allowing it to reach users in rural or isolated locations across the county. Local GP clinics co-operate by making their facilities available. Most clients are opiate users, with an increasing number using crack and amphetamines.
What makes it different:
The social care focus, the flexibility of the service and the multi-disciplinary nature of the team. The service will retain clients beyond the age of 20 if they are more suited to the young people's treatment environment. It will also refer younger users to adult services if they are better suited to the more formal structure, for example those on DTTOs.
Quotes:
"We look at the complex needs that young drug users have, rather than focusing on the type and quantity of the drugs they are taking. The young people's treatment service is designed to avoid the situation where people living near a treatment centre receive better care than those living miles away in rural areas."
