Wolverhampton Drug Service User Lifestyle Magazine

Also available online @ www.suiteam.com

SUIT Christmas Lunch 2012

Stress at Christmas and Recovery

Interview from behind the gate

2

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this work, no responsibility for

loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any

statement in it, can be accepted by the editor or by Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector

Council Service User Involvement Team,

as publishers. We would also like to thank all those that have contributed to this edition of

Welcome to issue 32 of Substance magazine, yes I know its

nearly that time of year again, the adverts are on the TV and

the shops are stocked to the rafters. Here at SUIT we are

getting ready for our Christmas meal, this year we are asking

for people to donate their old clothes so that we can raise

some money towards the cost of providing the Christmas

lunch (see page 13).

On page 8 you will find some information to help you cope

with the stresses that Christmas can bring, after all Christmas is

a time for giving and spending time with your loved ones, not

a time to be worrying.

Christmas aside we have some interesting interviews for an

insight into the services you may come into contact with, on

the back page we have an interview with SUBS the young

persons drug and alcohol team and inside an interview from

a substance misuse worker at HMP Oakwood.

As always a massive thank you to everyone who has

contributed to this edition of Substance and if you would like

your work featured in the next magazine please send it into us

on our freepost address or use page 15.

Finally everyone at SUIT would like to wish you all a very Merry

Christmas and a Happy New Year, stay safe and enjoy!!

3

Local & International News Pg 4-5

Poem– Dug addiction to life Pg 6

Yoga classes Pg 7

Christmas stress and recovery Pg 8-9

Interview from behind the gate Pg 10-12

SUIT clothes collection Pg 13

SUIT activities Pg 14 A page for you Pg 15-16

Recipe Pg 17

Volunteer opportunities Pg 18

Cocaine??!! Pg 19

YMCA Bridge drop-in Pg 20

Christmas word search Pg 21

Poem– Liberty lost Pg 22

SUIT Christmas lunch Pg 23

Local NA meetings Pg 24

Needle Exchange Pharmacies Pg 25

Local service Directory Pg 26-27

4

Give heroin addicts free tin foil,

say Government drug advisers

The chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recom-

mended that aluminium foil be added to the list of “paraphernalia” that

can be given out by doctors and pharmacists, along with syringes.

Prof Les Iversen said giving addicts foil would help them switch from inject-

ing the drug, which can lead to the transmission of deadly diseases, to

smoking it.

The ACMD is also recommending to the Home Secretary, Theresa May,

that a “particularly potent” so-called legal high known as Annihilation

should be banned.

Nine people in Scotland are said to have been hospitalised in three

months after smoking the drug, which is marketed as herbal incense, and

becoming “severely agitated and over-stimulated”.

In addition, the ACMD is “concerned” about increasing misuse of

Tramadol, a powerful painkiller, and is looking into fears that addiction to

prescription drugs could become a problem in Britain, as it is in America.

At the ACMD’s full council meeting in London, Prof Iversen outlined its cur-

rent work and recommendations it is making to the Home Office.

He said: “We recommended that aluminium foil should be part of legal

paraphernalia. Heroin addicts and other injecting drug addicts can al-

ready obtain needles, sterile water and alcohol wipes etc legally so

we’ve suggested that foil should be added to that list.

“Foil can be used as a way of smoking heroin instead of injecting it and is

thus considered safer, avoiding the hazards of injecting with possibly con-

taminated needles.

“We’ve been subjected to a number of questions from the Department of

Health about the safety of smoking versus injecting, and we are still wait-

ing a response. We’ve been promised one by the end of the month.”

Asked why drug addicts should receive the foil free, he replied: “I think it’s

a good idea because it avoids the harms associated with injecting drug

use, both infection at the site of injection and also the danger of transmit-

ting viral and bacterial disease.

“That can certainly lead to a large charge for the National Health Service

and if we can find a safer way I think we should use it.” Source: The Telegraph

International News

5

Seventy years jail for

drug syndicate

The leaders of the 29-strong syndi-

cate had laundered at least £2 mil-

lion through casinos and were using

the drug money to fund a luxury life-

style. The group used fake IDs and

falsified bank statements to rent

homes and industrial units in Smeth-

wick, Tipton, Sandwell, Edgbaston,

Halesowen and Nottingham. The

units were kitted out with hydropon-

ics set-ups to heat, ventilate and

water the plants while others were

used as storage facilities to hold

harvested cannabis before being

sold to dealers.

SUIT Clothes Collection

We are trying to raise funds to help

towards our Christmas meal. We

are asking everyone who may

have old clothes that are no

longer wanted to donate them to

us. We are going to recycle them

for cash and use the money to

help us put on a three course

Christmas meal for the service

users of Wolverhampton, if you

have anything you may be able to

donate please call us on 01902

328983. Thank you!!

Teenager warned after £3,000 drugs are seized

A teenager has been warned he faces a long stretch behind bars after

admitting possessing class A drugs with the intent to deal them.

The male, aged 19, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin with

intent to supply. He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

The offences relate to the discovery of around £3,000 worth of drugs in the

vehicle and during a subsequent search of his home, the court was told.

The teenager, from Bushbury, was remanded on conditional bail with an

electronic tag controlling a night time curfew while pre-sentencing re-

ports are prepared.

At the hearing Judge Amjad Nawaz told him: “You have pleaded guilty

to very serious offences but because of your youth and lack of en-

trenched pattern of criminality, a report will be useful for the judge who

sentences you.”But he added: “Do not read into the fact that you are

being granted bail the possibility of you receiving anything other than a

lengthy period of custody.”

The teenager will return to the crown court to be sentenced in November

when the case against him will be outlined in full. Source: Express & Star

Local News

6

Drug Addiction to Life

Can't live without it?

Is it what makes your life go on?

You believe it makes you happy?

I'm sorry but you're wrong

You're better than that

You just don't know it

It's about time you took control of your life

Now, before you blow it

It's just not that easy

Is what you will say

I know it will be hard

I will be here to support you each and every day

You won't regret it

I can promise you that

Your life will be better than before

And when it happens, you won't look back.

By Anonymous

7

8

Managing stress at Christmas in recovery

The holidays are stressful for everyone, but those who are recov-

ering from addiction can sometimes have an even more difficult

time dealing with stress. Addicts often use their addiction as a

coping mechanism for stressful situations. When they are recov-

ering, it is can be hard to know how to constructively address

these emotions.

In order to deal with your stress in a helpful rather than hurtful

way, it is first wise to learn to recognize the symptoms of stress.

Stress is what a person experiences as a result of difficult or up-

setting events, especially those that continue for a long time.

Also, stress is the experience people have when the demands

they make of themselves or those placed upon them are

greater than what they feel like they can handle.

Sometimes, we are not aware of the stress and what it is doing

to us until it manifests itself physically. Some of the physical symp-

toms of stress are sleep problems, such as trouble falling asleep,

waking up during the night, nightmares, waking up early, and

being unable to fall back to sleep. Some other symptoms of

stress are headaches, stomach problems, fatigue, moodiness,

and irritability. You may have trouble concentrating and feel a

general dissatisfaction with life or you may feel overwhelmed.

If you have been experiencing two or more of the classic symp-

toms of stress, you need to start thinking about how to address

the situation before it interferes with your addiction recovery

process. You need to have a network of recovery support. The

people who relapse are usually the ones who have failed to ob-

tain a support system.

9

People in addiction tend to isolate themselves, withdraw from

others, and be convinced that they can take care of problems

on their own. This is relapse waiting to happen because the brain

is trying in any way it knows to find a justification to start using

again. Because of this, it is very important to have people that

can be supportive of your struggles.

During the holidays, try not to overdo it. Don’t invite the whole

family over to your house for Christmas dinner and plan to make

all the food yourself. That may be too much for anyone, let alone

the recovering addict. Don’t decide you need the best gifts for

everyone you know when you can’t afford to buy them. That will

only stress you out. Do what you can do and forget about the

rest.

Holidays are ultimately supposed to be about spending time with

family and friends. Try your best to concentrate on that and

leave the rest behind.

www.rehab-international.org

Call 0800 781 7082 for

support and help on how to sort out any debt issues that you are facing.

10

Interview from behind the gate.

Adam Bird - Team leader of Substance Misuse

Services at HMP Oakwood

What does your job entail ?

I am one of the team leaders of the substance misuse service at

HMP Oakwood. We promote and advertise the service within the

prison, with the aim of getting anyone with drug or alcohol prob-

lems into treatment. From here we assess individual needs to ensure

that a client specific care plan is built around them to help support

them on their road to recovery. Services here at HMP Oakwood

range from; clinical prescribing, 1:1 sessions, groupwork, family inter-

ventions, NA meetings, mentoring, support from local service user

groups and multi-agency working with local community provider

teams. We also link in with other services that are available within

the prison, such as: resettlement, education, chaplaincy, employ-

ment and the gymnasium.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding element is being part of a service users recov-

ery. Helping them to take back control of their situation and work-

ing with them as they progress through the different stages of

change. People suffering with substance misuse issues within prison

can find themselves isolated from services, with low self-esteem

and feeling powerless over the position they find themselves in. It is

very rewarding to see how by helping people deal with their sub-

stance misuse issues, clients are able to build upon their own self-

confidence. With this boost in self-esteem, service users are able to

engage in wider services to tackle other issues they may be facing

at that time.

Following on from this, it is excellent when service users who have

worked through their substance misuse issues then want to involve

themselves in our service and help others who are struggling. The

11

involvement of service users is extremely powerful as it promotes

the message of hope and demonstrates that change is achiev-

able.

Another element of my role that I particularly enjoy is working

alongside community agencies and forging links between the

prison and community. When service users leave prison and go

back to their local communities, this can be a significant risk factor

for them and can lead to a lapse or relapse. Therefore, it is vital

that we link in with local services as early as possible to ensure ser-

vice users have the right support available to help them continue

their recovery within their local community.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

We have service users engaged with our service from all areas of

the country, this can be challenging when looking at pre-release

work. As we have really good links with our local community provid-

ers. However, with clients being released to London, Liverpool and

South Wales it can be a challenge for our team as different areas

have different procedures, criteria’s and prescribing services.

A challenge for our service is to balance service user expectations

with what is realistic within a prison setting. This is the reason why we

hold monthly service user forums to keep listening to ideas and sug-

gestions that clients put forward. This gives us the opportunity to

take the service forward, but also ensure that our service users feel

listened to. This is often about compromise; an example of this

would be that our service users identified daily NA meetings would

be of a benefit. However, we can only currently facilitate these on

a weekly basis, although we are working towards having three

meetings a week.

Within the prison setting clients often report issues regarding sleep.

This can be problematic for our service users as this can increase

feelings of worry and anxiety which in turn put our clients in a vul-

nerable position. Therefore, we ensure that we do run sessions on

sleep-hygiene and relaxation to help clients build a solid pattern of

sleep.

12

Is there a big problem with substance misuse

in prisons?

Substance misuse is a challenge within the prison, approximately

60% of new admissions into prison disclose alcohol or substance

misuse issues. This can often link into other problems throughout the

regime in terms of self-harm, bullying, mental and physical health

problems. To be able to effectively deal with such a large dynamic

client group our service has to be responsive, flexible and innova-

tive. To ensure that we can deliver interventions that are appropri-

ate to clients at various stages within their treatment journey.

What advice would you give to someone who

wanted to work within substance misuse within

the prisons?

My advice to people interested in this area of work would be first to

contact their local DIP team or service user groups to see if there

are any volunteer placements in any of their Criminal Justice

Teams. As this can be a great introduction to the area and oppor-

tunity to take part in some in-reach work. Working in a prison can

be very hectic, busy and stressful, therefore, by doing some in-

reach visits this will give you an opportunity to get a real insight into

the day to day work. Upon completion of this, I would advise peo-

ple to look out for vacancies on the internet, local newspapers and

job centres. All our vacancies are advertised on www.jobs.nhs.uk

13

14

SUIT run a number of free activities which are set

up for users of Wolverhampton Drug or Alcohol

services. Call us on 01902 328983 for more info.

Plus Much More........

15

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16

A Page For You!

This page has been left blank so you can send us

your stories, poems or anything else you would like

to see in the magazine, simply tear the page out

and send it to our freepost

address printed on the opposite side of the page. (If you don’t want your name with it, you don't have to)

17

DON’T FORGET

Anyone can contribute an article, poem, story, question etc. Send your stuff FREE to:

SUIT, c/o WVSC, FREEPOST MID14051, Wolverhampton, WV2 4BR.

Sausage and Potato

Casserole

Perfect for those cold

winter nights.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 25 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Skill level: Easy peasy

Costs: Cheap as chips

Ingredients:

1tbsp oil

500g new potatoes, halved

454g pack sausages

1 onion, sliced

1 green pepper, diced

340g jar tomato pasta sauce

Method 1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the potatoes and sausages for

five minutes

2. Add the onion and pepper and cook for a further five minutes, turning

the sausages occasionally until browned.

3. Add the pasta sauce, rinse the jar out with a splash of water and add to

the pan. Cook, covered for twenty minutes.

All of these ingredients (not including the oil) can be purchased from Asda

for £3.10!!!

18

19

Cocaine

Cocaine is white powder that is snorted through a straw or rolled-up note

in the nose. But what does cocaine do to your body? And how does it

come from? Get clued-up...

What is it?

Coke is a white powder that comes from the Coca plant.

It is usually snorted (inhaled through the nose with a straw). It can be in-

jected or swallowed.

It can be made into a smokeable drug - known as crack .

How does it make you feel?

Coke makes you feel exhilarated, confident, excited and speedy.

The buzz lasts for up to an hour. There is an immediate comedown when

you might feel you want more.

What are the health effects?

Because the buzz is so short it can be tempting to put off the comedown

by taking more and more. This makes it really addictive. You can develop

a tolerance to coke over one night. By the end of the night you'll need

more of it to get the same effect that you got when you started.

Snorting coke can damage your nose. Long term it can give you serious

heart and breathing problems. It can also make you feel depressed, anx-

ious and paranoid.

The law

Cocaine is an illegal class A drug. The maximum penalty for possession is

14 years in prison. For supply it's life in prison. You can get an unlimited fine

for both Source: BBC News

20

21

A Bit of Christmas Inspiration

“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, Forgiveness. To an

opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer,

service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To

yourself, respect” - Oren Arnold.

“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by

what we give” -Winston Churchill.

“There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you de-

cide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections

and traditions” -Bill Mckibben.

22

Liberty Lost !

When I smiled at the world peeps called me smiley

Now unless it’s unguarded I smile only slightly.

There’s this thing in the mirror that no longer impresses

Deep scars, no teeth and bald from life’s stresses

With these sunken teeth and mouth that’s caved in

I’m in my middle years, am I past saving?

I receive sincere handshakes and dazzling smiles

But they’re mostly fake expressions like crocodiles,

I can still close my eyes as the world goes by

Imagining emerald green fields with azure blue sky;

But once open again reality confronts me

Creamy dirty paint crumbling miserably.

I imagine tattooed teardrops tracing tracks

Along the wrinkly laughter lines where I laughed

And I’m no longer raging at the outing of lights

But got love and hate ready for a left and a right

I used to sing sweetly like birds in the trees

Now it’s more like a hurricane blending into a breeze

There’s been lover and loves lost over the years

All those tears soaked into walls along with my fears

Scared to be alone with no real home

Scared to have phone credit with no one to phone

Am I really the architect of my own self destruction?

Or do I blame the shirts and ties (you know) corrupt men?

Either way no defeat, no surrender, I’m not here to stay

For any cost for my freedom is too high to pay!

By J. Smith

23

SUIT Christmas Lunch

All Drug and Alcohol service users in

Wolverhampton are invited to our SUIT

Christmas Lunch on Friday 14th December

at Lea Road Community Church.

Look out for invitations at your

treatment provider!!!

Or call 01902 328983

for more Information

24

W o l v e r h a m p t o n ►Thursday 4:30 pm YMCA Bridge, Temple St

►Friday 7:30 pm Methodist Church, Darlington Street

W e s t B r o m w i c h ►Wednesday 7:30 pm Chapter House, Phoenix St

(upstairs in lounge ring bell for access).

W a l s a l l ►Tuesday 6:45pm Lantern House, 130 Lichfield Road, Walsall

►Tuesday 7:00 pm S.t Matthews centre, Walsall

(women’s meeting)

S t o u r b r i d g e / D u d l e y

►Tuesday 8:00 pm Gibbs House, Gibbs Rd, off Bald Lane, Lye.

►Wednesday 6:30 pm ‘The Warehouse, Atlantic House,

Dudley Rd. (Building behind the Bronx).

NA Help Line: 0300 9991212

25

A List of Pharmacies In Wolverhampton who Offer Needle Exchange

A Brickley Ltd, 88 Griffiths Drive, WV11 2JW

All Saints Pharmacy, 91-93 All Saints Road, WV2 1DR

Alpharm Ltd, 468 Stafford Road, WV10 6AP

Anderson Chemist, 311 Dudley Road, WV2 3JE

Boots Pharmacy, 40-41 Dudley Street, WV1 3ER

Boots Pharmacy, Bentley Bridge Park, Wednesfield, WV11 1BP

Boots Pharmacy, 100 Church Street, Bilston, WV14 0BJ

Brooklands Pharmacy, 48 Brooklands Parade, WV1 2NE

Brutons Pharmacy, 1 Mervyn Place, Bilston, WV14 8DD

Co-op Pharmacy, Avion Centre, 6 Bargate Drive, WV6 0QW

Co-op Pharmacy, 425 Dudley Road, WV2 3AH

Co-op Pharmacy, 8 Showell Circus, WV10 9BA

Co-op, Pendeford Health Centre, Whitburn Close, WV9 5NJ

Essington Pharmacy, 129 Long Knowle Lane, WV11 1JG

HN Pharmacy, 124 Cannock Road, WV10 8PW

Jhoots Pharmacy, 50 Newhampton Road West, WV6 0RY

Lloyds Pharmacy, 323/325 Penn Road, WV4 5QF

Lloyds Pharmacy, 34/35 Thornley Street, WV1 1JP

Lloyds Pharmacy, 18-20 The Broadway, WV10 8EB

Lloyds Pharmacy, 45 Church Street, WV14 0AX

Lloyds Pharmacy, Lower Street, WV6 9NS

Lloyds Pharmacy, 181 Wednesfield Road, WV10 0EN

Lloyds Pharmacy, 18 High Street, Wednesfield, WV11 1SZ

Meerapharm, 331 Bushbury Lane, WV10 9UJ

Murrays Healthcare, 128 Childs Avenue, Coseley, WV14 9XB

Phoenix Pharmacy, Phoenix Health Centre, Parkfield Road, WV4 6ED

Staveley Chemist, 212 Staveley Road, WV1 4RH

Supercare Pharmacy, 135 Dudley Road, WV2 3HD

Superdrug Pharmacy, 65/67 Mander Square, WV1 3NN

Tettenhall Wood Pharmacy, 12 School Road, WV6 8EN

A l l e q u i p m e n t i s p r o v i d e d f r e e o f c h a r g e

Look out for this sign on the shop front to

find out if they provide the service

LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE GOOD

SHEPHERD

The Methodist Cen-

tre. 24 School Street,

Wolverhampton

Morning Service

10.30 – 11.30 a.m.

Monday & Thursday: Dry Food,

Gents Clothes, Male Showers

Friday: Gents Clothes, Male

Shower

Afternoon Service: 2 – 3.30 pm.

Daily: Service of Food Packages

If you need any advice or guidance on Homelessness

issues feel free to

contact Wolver-

hampton City

Council on the

details below -:

Homeless Services

Unit

Social Services

Wolverhampton City

Council

Civic Centre

St. Peter's Square

Wolverhampton

The Lords Soup

Kitchen Full Meals served

between

7 & 9pm - :

Sun and Wed.

For anyone in need.

All Welcome Temple St, W’ton

● Provide advice & guidance

● Activities like life skills, literacy

etc

● Signposting

● Benefits & Tenancy advice

● Base for Big Issue Plus much

St. GeorgesSt. GeorgesSt. Georges

Tel -:

(01902) 421904

St Marks Rd

Chapel Ash

W’ton

WV3 09H

Hub Opening Hrs

09:15 -17:00

Thornhurst,

1 Connaught Road,

Chapel Ash,

Wolverhampton,

WV1 4SJ

0300 2002400

L o c a l S e r v i c e s

Service User Involvement Team

S U I T Full Address:

c/o WVSC

16 Temple Street

Wolverhampton

WV2 4AN

Tel No -:

01902 328983

w w w . s u i t e a m . c o m

Helping to improve

drug treatment and lives

Subs – See young

people across

the city at various

community

venues.

Telephone

Number:

(01902) 572041

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday - 9am - 6pm

Friday - 9am - 5pm

Offers; Group Work, Key Work, Harm

Reduction, Substitute Prescribing,

Acupuncture, Family Therapy, Gen-

eral Drug Information.

Dental Health Project Free dental treatment and

advice for service users!

Every second Monday @

Horizon House all day

Tuesday’s 1:30pm to 4:30pm @

Whitmore Reans health centre (behind

Avion centre)

Just drop in or call 01902 444460 for

more info.

L o c a l S e r v i c e s

28

Interview with Jo Heany

Team Manager of SUBS

What is SUBS?

SUBS is Wolverhampton’s young person’s drug

& alcohol specialist treatment service working

with 11- 18 year olds where substances are

having a negative impact in their lives per-

haps on their physical health, mental health

or with their family relationships.

We can offer a young person and their family

a comprehensive care package that can

incorporate, one to one work, group work,

family support/sessions, substitute prescribing,

health assessments, sexual health interven-

tions, life skill programs and a PAYP program

(positive activities for young people) i.e. art,

sport, music and accredited courses peer

mentoring/first aid.

We support young people by working in part-

nership with other agencies where necessary

to support their development.

The service operates with a youthwork model

and aims to “alleviate harm of substances

within a young person’s life”

Where are you based?

We are based at St. Johns House Church

Street Wolverhampton where we have a

newly refurbished centre for young people

with counselling rooms, a music room, com-

puter suite and a sensory room. As well as

having a town centre base we work across

the community and will see young people in

a variety of settings i.e. schools, youth centres,

GPs, and home visits. We also have a team

member based at Wolverhampton Youth

Offending team.

How can people access the service?

The service can be accessed in a number of

ways through professional referrals, parental

referrals or a young person making a self

referral. All referrals can be received by

phone, fax, e mail or presenting at the cen-

tre. We aim to offer an initial assessment

within 5 working days from referral.

The service has an open access drop in on

Wednesdays from 3.00pm – 6.00pm.

Is it a confidential service?

YES the service is a confidential service.

Sometimes when there are safeguarding

concerns about a young person’s welfare

and safety we legally have a duty to share

this information, where possible always dis-

cussed with a young person & family when

this occurs. We also encourage parental

involvement and will offer a safe space and

mediation for this to happen.

Can parents bring their child if they are

worried about them misusing substances?

Absolutely we will support parents in engag-

ing their son or daughter into treatment, if

however a young person is not ready to en-

gage we will refer parents to appropriate

support services for themselves. The service

can offer drug screening but usually as part

of an order, medical treatment, and child

protection plan or with a young person’s

consent.

Please call if you have any further questions

or would like to come and see the centre or

meet the staff team.

01902 572041