National Tackling Drugs Week: Service that offers hope
Jun 9 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Service that offers hope to drug abusers
Wound care is provided in partnership with district nurses and there is a contraception and sexual health advice service.
But the service’s main aim is to give clients ongoing treatment.
In the treatment stage, people are given a care plan. Their need is assessed in partnership with health and law enforcement agencies. There are one-to-one sessions, group discussions, doctors on-site to provide prescriptions and specialist services provided in local communities.
“Our aim is to get people into treatment within one week,” says Chris.
“A few years ago it would have been as much as six months.
“If they don’t get treatment they are going to use street drugs. If they use street drugs, they are going to commit crime.
“Once they are through treatment, the main aim is to get them back into living some semblance of a normal life.”
The third stage of Lifeline’s work is after-care – supporting people in conjunction with health professionals, educational institutions and employment agencies to get into study or work and to become socialised members of society.
Chris says: “You do get some people who come back through the door, but we do see a lot of people go on to maintain normal lives as productive members of society and that’s very satisfying.”
