DISC News Items - Updated 22/05/08

DISC and National Tackling Drugs Week May 19-23 Activities
North East of England

Young people’s drugs and alcohol project workers in Teesside are dressing up as Snow White, the seven dwarves and the wicked witch during National Tackling Drugs Week 19-23 May in order to promote the advice and support work they do to keep young people safe.

Snow White – the advice and support worker – will have her hands full keeping the wicked witch – the drug dealer – at bay, and telling the seven Tees Valley dwarves Moody, Stoney, Easy, Speedy, Snorty, Dizzy, and Snoozy what the effects of their respective drugs steroids, cannabis, ecstasy, speed, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs are, and how to change their lives.

They will be talking to the public and handing out useful credit-card sized information in Middlesbrough at the Life store in the Mall shopping centre from 11am – 2pm on Monday 19 May, in Stockton at Fun in the Park Parish Church from 1 – 4pm on Tuesday 20 May, in Hartlepool at the Bell View Community Centre from 12 – 2pm on Wednesday 21 May, and in Redcar and Cleveland at the Coatham Bowl from 4.30 – 6.30pm on Thursday 22 May.

Debbie Simmons, who manages the young people’s drugs and alcohol service Platform in Middlesbrough, said: “We thought that by giving the Snow White story a thought-provoking twist more young people would take note of important messages about the effects of drugs and alcohol. Our story line depicts the good, the bad and the vulnerable, and shows that there is a way to seek help if your drug or alcohol use is causing you concern.”

Platform is part of northern regional social inclusion charity Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities (DISC) along with the three other young people’s Tees Valley drugs and alcohol services Stash (in Stockton), Crest (in Redcar and Cleveland), and Hyped (in Hartlepool).

DISC has a track record of engaging with young people, a theme which ties in with the emphasis in the government’s new 10 year drugs strategy on awareness raising, prevention and treatment for teenagers.

For instance the Platform drug and alcohol education coordinator has developed a ground-breaking education pack to enable Keystage 3 & 4 teachers to meet new government guidelines and deliver drug and alcohol education confidently.

Other Platform team members have launched an easy-to-use screening tool and pioneering training programme to enable professionals across Middlesbrough to assess the first signs of drug and alcohol use in young people. To date they have trained 275 social and youth workers, A&E staff, careers advisors, teachers and foster carers how to use the early-identification kit and a resource pack to enable them to deliver brief interventions with a harm minimisation approach.

The other three Tees Valley drugs and alcohol services have also developed a Substance Use Screening Tool (SUST) and this is being implemented in local areas. This also ties in with the Drug Related Incident Procedure in schools.

For further information on Platform’s training programme and work in Middlesbrough contact Phil Edwards, Platform training coordinator, on 01642 246241. For further information on DISC visit www.disc-vol.org.uk or ring 01388 424450.

 Yorkshire

DISC’s Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) team in Leeds and their partners the Together Women Project (TWP) and Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) are holding an open day on Friday May 23 to mark National Tackling Drugs Week.

The event at Mabgate Mill in Leeds city centre is open to drug users and their family members, who will be invited to take part in football, art and henna activities, enjoy a complimentary therapy session and massage, watch a magician’s show, or simply chat in a relaxed environment.

During National Tackling Drugs Week DISC staff will be going out with partners from other agencies to make contact with vulnerable drug users who are not currently undergoing treatment, and to encourage them to get involved with treatment programmes.

Updated 20/05/08