OutThere
The OutThere Project is a peer led drugs education project working with 13-19 year old volunteers. Our volunteers (young people) go out and talk to other young people, parents and communities about drug issues with an emphasis on harm reduction (peer to peer). Whilst with the project participants can gain further qualifications which can assist toward future employment.
Referral Criteria:
- 13–19 year olds who are affected by substance misuse issues
- Self or agency referrals living within County Durham
Katie was referred to the OutThere by Progress 2 Work. She feels that she has tried all drugs and that her biggest problem came when she moved from smoking heroin and sniffing amphetamine to injecting both. Katie found that she was struggling to function on a daily basis without the drugs and was requiring more and more drugs to get the same feeling. This proved to be costly for Katie and soon she was borrowing money from friends and family but never resorted to burgling houses or cars.
When Katie met her new partner and realised that they would have no life together if she continued with her chaotic drug lifestyle. Katie was referred to Orbit and received methadone and subutex for her heroin use and through a support mechanism gradually decreased her amphetamine use. Over a period of 12 months she stopped using heroin, methadone, subutex, amphetamine and later diazepam. Orbit referred Katie to OutThere as she was making such attempts to turn her life around however she discovered that she was pregnant and therefore postponed paid employment.
Katie however was keen to be kept busy and was referred to OutThere. She commenced her training however her knowledge was so advanced that she completed it within a matter of weeks and was keen to actively get involved with the project.
Katie has been a fantastic peer educator passing on harm reduction messages within her community and as a result helping to keep young people safe. Katie has used her extensive knowledge to help facilitate drug awareness sessions and speak to young people about the dangers of drug use and freedom of choice.
Download
OutThere Cartoon Poster Request Form [176kb]
OutThere Annual Report 2006 [912kb]Contact
115a Gilesgate, Durham, DH1 1QG
Tel: 0191 - 384 2785
Fax: 0191 - 386 9192