Bristol Agencies Launch Pioneering Drugs Scheme

bristol | drugs and crime | press release Wednesday September 03, 2008 07:01 by Sal - SWITCH

A group of Bristol agencies today launched SWITCH, a pioneering scheme aimed at tackling the city’s growing drugs problems. The first of its kind in the UK, SWITCH will target the root causes of drugs. To do this, it will work alongside drug-users and dealers to promote and identify ways to get them out of using and dealing drugs.

A group of Bristol agencies today launched SWITCH, a pioneering scheme aimed at tackling the city’s growing drugs problems. The first of its kind in the UK, SWITCH will target the root causes of drugs. To do this, it will work alongside drug-users and dealers to promote and identify ways to get them out of using and dealing drugs.

SWITCH is the brainchild of Bristol drugs and alcohol agencies CAAAD, IDEAL and Nilaari. Recent research conducted by IDEAL into drug-use in Bristol’s deprived communities showed a worrying increase in crack-cocaine use. Crack dependency is consuming and costly, and has lead to a corresponding increase in violence and trigger crimes. It has also increased the numbers of ‘user dealers’ competing for trade through street dealing, which is openly carried out in Bristol’s most affected areas.

Project stakeholders saw that a joined-up approach was needed to tackle the problem, which took into account the needs of Bristol’s disadvantaged communities. Recognising that the solution lay in community development rather than criminal justice, they looked to several examples for inspiration. Nilaari’s Uhuru project offered group work with dealers while an innovative project in Baltimore, USA actively promoted services in the community and worked with dealers to help them out of dealing. The success of the latter has been held as an industry example of good practice.

Though SWITCH takes elements of each, it is not police-led like the Baltimore project. Non-judgmental, experienced outreach workers will deliver its services proactively in Bristol communities. They will work in partnership with probation and prisons to offer services to dealers and users who have either served time or are at risk of going to prison. They will also work with Bristol Housing Office’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit to provide an intermediary service enabling identified ‘troublemakers’ to address their issues before firmer measures are taken.
SWITCH clients will be offered a package of services comprising education, counselling, rehabilitation, housing and financial advice. These packages will be designed and drawn together by the outreach workers, working in partnership with local service providers.

Nick Bentley, Director of IDEAL said,

“Over the last ten years, Bristol has seen a massive increase in the use of crack-cocaine with 92% of the users we researched claiming to use it, many of them regularly. The research also showed that awareness of services for crack dependency is low, however, so these figures are continually growing. The illegal drug market is Bristol is having a negative impact on communities, exposing younger people to dealing and making people feel unsafe on the streets.

In the long-term, jail isn’t the answer as many re-offend once they get out. They may be addicted to drugs or know no other way of making money so easily fall back into old ways. The Baltimore and Uhuru examples have enabled us to develop a new approach to help us break this cycle of behaviour. This is while gaining the trust and respect of the communities and drug users that we are trying to help.”

Lee Vaughan, SWITCH’s Outreach Co-ordinator said,

“Many of the dealers we speak to on a daily basis are desperate to get out. There are many factors behind dealing – extreme poverty, poor education and popular culture to name but a few. We’ve spoken to a lot of people to find out what the key issues are so we can offer a service that will work. As well as helping us with service development, this information has been fed into a far-reaching promotional campaign, which will help us raise the profile of the project.”

If you are interested in finding out more about SWITCH, please call 0117 904-2298 or go to www.switch-changegear.org.uk.

-Ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS:

SWITCH has received funding from New Deal For Communities (NDC).

CAAAD (Community Action Around Alcohol and Drugs) is a project within Barton Hill Settlement. It is the leading drug agency for holistic therapies in Bristol offering drug users a range of services including drop-in sessions, counseling, one-to-one support, hepatitis and alcohol probation services.
www.bartonhillsettlement.org.uk/caaad.htm

IDEAL is a Bristol-based group of community lobbyists that aims to bring about real and sustainable change to individuals and communities affected by the problematic use of drugs and alcohol.

It seeks to support and enable residents, community groups and statutory services in the development of a strong, thriving community. This is achieved through the combination of research, innovative ideas, raising awareness and understanding of the issues involved and bringing stakeholders together to ensure a collaborative and transparent approach.
www.ideal-cl.org.uk

Nilaari is a community based drug treatment provider that administers accessible high quality culturally appropriate services. It aims to improve the emotional and physical health of adults and young people from Black & other Minority communities who misuse or are at risk of misusing drugs and alcohol in Bristol.
www.nilaari.co.uk

Barton Hill Settlement is a multi-purpose community based project that offers a range of services and community development support to all people in the area it serves.

For further information, interviews or comment, please contact Sally Hems at Oakleaf Communications, 020 7193-9283 / sally@oakleafcomms.co.uk.

Bristol Agencies Launch Pioneering Drugs Scheme 0.03 Mb SWITCH: The Scheme & How It Works 0.15 Mb