POOLE DRUG ACTION TEAM

TRAINING STRATEGY

2005/2006

The Poole Drug Action Team will provide 750 free training places per year on a borough-wide training programme to include:

§ Stage 1 – 3 Drug Awareness Training (accredited through DANOS)

§ Specialist training workshops to include topics such as blood borne diseases, overdose prevention, crime and addiction

§ MoC screening tool training

§ YP SUST training

§ DIP intervention awareness

§ Drug Awareness training for licensees in Poole (Pubwatch)

The Poole Drug Action Team recognises that effective training equips individuals to develop the knowledge and skills to identify substance misuse and give appropriate and quality responses. The aim is to provide consistent and appropriate multi-agency training across Poole.

Drug Awareness Training

Drug Awareness training was commissioned three years ago to help those who may come into contact with anyone whose life may be adversely affected by substance misuse, aimed at helping staff deliver interventions appropriate to their work. Every day, many lives are affected by the consequences of substance misuse and this course is open to all Borough of Poole employees and DAT partner agencies, who would like to raise their awareness and understanding of this important issue. The content of the course is designed to give participants up-to-date knowledge and the opportunity to discuss some of the key topics.

The Drug Awareness Training has been expanded from two levels to three, and this consists of the following topics:

Stage 1

· Why do people use drugs?

· Categories of drugs

· Basic introduction to illegal/street drugs and their effects upon individuals

· Street costs

· Paraphernalia

· How the drugs are used

· Routes of entry

· Who is affected?

· Basic introduction to dependency and addiction

· Basic alcohol awareness

Stage 2

· Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

· Penalties for supply/possession

· More in-depth look at pharmacology of drugs and the effects on the brain/ withdrawal effects

· Helping clients to ‘Break the Habit’ – behaviour changes and coping strategies

· Blocks to communication

· Deeper insight into the social/psychological/physical health risks of alcohol misuse

Stage 3

· Drugs and pregnancy

· Harm minimisation (to include safer injecting)

· Relapse prevention

· Motivational interviewing

· Children of substance misusing parents/carers

SUST for Young People

Poole Drug Action Team has commissioned training to complement the drug awareness training already in place. This initiative forms part of the National Government Drug Strategy which requires local authorities to develop an integrated approach to substance use/misuse, education, prevention and treatment services for children and young people. The training is designed to enable staff to explore what this means for them and develop their confidence to fulfil these roles. In particular it aims to enable staff to use SUST – Poole’s substance use/misuse screening tool for use with young people.

Poole Drug Action Team aims to ensure staff are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond appropriately and effectively to the issue of substance use/misuse amongst the young people they work with.

Staff working in voluntary and statutory youth orientated agencies play a key role in proactively responding to substance use/misuse, particularly with vulnerable young people. This may involve them in:

§ working with young people to identify how their use affects their life

§ identifying the level of risk their use involves them in

§ identifying gaps in their knowledge of substances and substance use

§ engaging young people in ‘low threshold’ interventions such as informal harm reduction advice and support and developing motivation to change

§ deciding whether or not a referral to YADAS – the young people drug and alcohol service is appropriate.

Adult SUST

The screening tool for referring adults for treatment forms part of Models of Care and the new NTA Treatment Effectiveness Strategy and training in the use of Adult SUST will be provided as part of the DAT Training Programme.

Drug Workshops

A number of workshops (linked to DANOS competencies) have been devised to cover different drug/alcohol related topics:

Crime and Addiction

There is an enormous correlation between drug addiction and crime. This workshop focuses on the reasons for this, looking at the addictive nature of some of the drugs, both psychologically and physically and the ways in which the drug seeking behaviour can, in certain cases, be the main driver for many clients to commit crime to fund their dependency. It also offers an insight into the services available locally and nationally who work with clients awaiting, entering into, or being discharged from the Criminal Justice System.

Stress, Depression and Dual Diagnosis (incorporating self harm and eating disorders)

This workshop focuses on some of the stages of mental health problems that clients may experience as a consequence of using substances or may be experiencing prior to commencing any drug use and have therefore been exacerbated through their substance misuse. The session looks at signs and symptoms for practitioners and clients to be aware of and give practical advice on how to reduce the anxiety and fear that the clients may be experiencing and give strategies for moving the client forward or referring to external agencies for more specialised support. It also addresses the correlation between drug misuse and self harm, including eating disorders, and help to dispel myths and reduce the stereotyping of some of these vulnerable clients.

Crack Cocaine

The aim of this workshop is to heighten people’s awareness to the neurological, physical and emotional effects of using crack cocaine. The workshop also discusses treatment options and therapies used to treat individuals with a crack dependency.

Relapse Prevention

This workshop focuses on the treatment philosophy of Relapse Prevention, essentially looking at the model used by Marlett & Gordon as a relapse prevention strategy. The workshop includes background and knowledge of relapse prevention, focusing on high risk situations for clients in recovery and addressing particular triggers that may heighten client’s vulnerability to relapse. The session also looks at strategies that may reduce the risk of relapse and identify good and effective ways of working for practitioners involved with clients in this vulnerable stage of treatment and address some self management techniques that clients can utilise themselves.

Blood Borne Diseases

This workshop focuses on the need for practitioners to be aware of the ever rising numbers of people using substances who may be at risk of contracting a blood borne disease. It gives an overview of some of the most common viral and blood borne diseases contracted by drug misusing clients, namely; Hepatitis A, Hep B, Hep C, HIV & AIDS. Information is given on how services operate in our locality for clients who may need to be tested or who may need some support around coping with their disease. The session also focuses on dispelling the myths about how these diseases may be contracted, whilst giving practical advice as to how to protect oneself and clients from being exposed to these diseases.

Overdose Awareness and Drug Related Deaths

This workshop is designed to address the need for practitioners and clients to be more aware of the dangers of drug use in relation to the possibility of a drug or alcohol overdose. It focuses on particular drugs that have a higher risk of overdose potential and the dangers of mixing certain drugs in the body at the same time. It offers practical advice on how to deal with an overdose situation and signs and symptoms to be aware of. The session focuses on drug related deaths and look at current statistics both locally and nationally of people who have died through an overdose. It also focuses on not just instant drug related deaths but also on the delayed and accidental deaths from drug and alcohol misuse.

Pubscan Drug Awareness Training

The Poole Drug Action Team, in partnership with Poole Police, provide training event for licensees and their staff to raise awareness of drugs licensed premises in Poole. It also provides an opportunity to see the Ion Track machine being demonstrated. This machine can be used to detect and identify drugs in premises and it can also identify whether people have had contact with illicit substances.

§ Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

§ Drug Health issues including overdose prevention/resuscitation

§ Ion Track demonstration

§ Drug Awareness

A schedule of the training programme for 2005-06 is attached.