A to Z of services: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Print this page
Listen to our website
Change text size: A
A
A
High Contrast Version
 

Drug Services in Warrington

 

Tackling drugs, changing lives

At Warrington, we take a pro-active approach to following the Government's National Drug Strategy. The Strategy itself is a cross-Government programme of policies and interventions that aim to reduce the harm that drugs cause to communities, individuals, their families, and society in general.

The Strategy focuses on the most dangerous drugs, the most damaged communities and the most problematic drug users, and comprises four strands of work:

  • Preventing young people from becoming drug misusers 
  • Reducing the supply of illegal drugs
  • Increasing the number of individuals accessing effective drug treatment 
  • Reducing drug-related crime.      

In addition to the National Drug Strategy, the Government also established the National Treatment Agency (NTA) in 2001 to improve the availability and effectiveness of drug treatment in England. Within the NTA, Drug Action Teams (DATs) are responsible for delivering the National Drug Strategy at a local level and they work closely with representatives from Local Authorities to guide drug mis-users into and through treatment, communities then suffer less crime and criminal justice costs are reduced.


How we're tackling the problem 
 We currently provide a wide range of services in line with the National Drug Strategy:


Warrington Community Drug Team
Our Community Drug Team, provided by Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) (www.cri.org.uk), offers a methadone maintenance/reduction clinic service for people affected by drug misuse. Treatment is provided on a confidential basis, together with information on detoxification or rehabilitation services, blood borne virus testing, harm reduction advice and needle exchange. The Team also manages the GP Shared Care scheme, and referrals are made when anyone:

  • has a history of drug use 
  • requires help, information or advice 
  • is injecting or dependent on drugs      

In addition, a range of non-prescribed treatment options include:

  • walk in service offering advice and information 
  • central referral/screening centre for all treatment provision 
  • counselling on a one-to-one or group basis, relapse prevention 
  • family service work      

You can contact the Warrington Community Drug Team on 01925 415176.


Structured day care – Life Skills programme
Our day care programme provided by Lighthouse Project (www.lighthouseproject.co.uk) offers structured day care through pre-vocational and vocational training together with a wide range of social inclusion and personal development activities. It prepares trainees for moving on to the next stage of their recovery, which could be mainstream education, training, voluntary work or even employment. Additional elements of the programme include job search assistance, primary health care, basic skills tuition, coping skills, relapse prevention and sport/leisure activities.

PhaZe – young peoples treatment service
PhaZe offers helpful advice, information, support and treatment to young people who have been exposed to alcohol, drugs and tobacco.  The service is confidential and walk-in self referrals can be made at Connexions, based at The Gateway (town centre), or by telephone/agency/parent/carer   referral. A targeted outreach service is also available to educate groups across the Borough.

You can contact PhaZe on 01925 416611

Warrington Needle Exchange Scheme
There are currently 16 pharmacies taking part in our Pharmacy Needle Exchange Scheme, who provide injecting equipment to intravenous drug users on a confidential basis.

You can contact the Warrington Needle Exchange Scheme on 01925 415176

Warrington User Group 1st Point
The Group is run by those who have experienced drug misuse, and offers peer support, confidence building, and feedback on the delivery of available services .

You can contact Warrington User Group 1st Point on 07747 473 864

Footsteps
Footsteps is run by volunteers, many of whom have experienced drug use in their own family. Our volunteers help family members by listening, giving information, offering support and delivering drug awareness training.  Support and counseling is offered to families who have relatives in prison for a drug related offence.

You can contact Footsteps on 08457 023867.

Helpful websites
You can find more general information on both local and national drug strategies and treatments at the following websites: