Various types of help and treatment are available in Sheffield to suit different people’s needs. Below is a brief description of the main types of help and treatment and a suggestion of what type of person they may suit.
Contact details are also provided below.
Please follow the Adult Referral Pathway for Drug and/or Alcohol Treatment (opens in new window) to direct you to the most appropriate service.
Help with Drug Problems
1. Structured Counselling
Now commonly called structured psychosocial interventions. This consists of a series of sessions, usually about an hour a week, with a qualified counsellor or therapist over an initial twelve-week period. Counselling is usually provided in one-to-one sessions but group sessions are sometimes available, often having a themed focus, such as relapse prevention, stimulant users etc.
Who would benefit?
Any person who wants to talk over their drug-related problems and is prepared to make changes and work towards agreed goals. Structured counselling will usually be the most appropriate referral for stimulant users.
Who provides this service in Sheffield?
Phoenix Futures (0114 229 6101), Turning Point (0114 275 5973), Breakthrough (for BME communities, 0114 249 3700), SAAS (0114 258 7553)
2. Structured Day Care
Structured day programmes provide counselling, diversionary activities and wrap-around work, both as group work and one-to-one key worker sessions. Users of the day programme attend during office hours, Monday to Friday for three to four months.
Who would benefit?
Day Programmes are most suitable for people who would benefit from a high level of structure in their lives. People need to have either recently become drug free or be stable on a substitute prescription in order to attend, and be prepared to give a high level of commitment and time.
Who provides this service in Sheffield?
Kickstart (0114 278 0899)
3. Prescribing Treatment
Provided in GP surgeries, hospitals and clinics, this treatment involves the prescribing of substitute drugs. The treatment aims to help people stabilise, maintain or reduce drug use, or detoxify, in order to keep them off street drugs. Sometimes ‘blockers’ are prescribed after someone has come off drugs.
Who would benefit?
Any person who is physically dependent on an opiate, most commonly street heroin.
Who provides this service in Sheffield?
Sheffield Care Trust, Primary Care Clinic for Drug Dependence, GPs in Shared Care. However only GP's can refer into this, so please visit your GP for further information
4. Residential Rehabilitation
Residential rehabilitation is provided in a range of units throughout the country. Programmes last from three months to a year and they are provided only for people who have become drug free. Different rehabilitation units provide a wide variety of different types of programmes including therapy, group work and diversionary activities. Always seek advice from the Residential Reviewing Officer at Sheffield Care Trust before making a referral to a residential rehabilitation unit.
Who would benefit?
People who have previously tried and failed to remain drug free in the community and are prepared to move to and live in another area for a substantial period of time.
Who provides this service in Sheffield?
A number of agencies in Sheffield as well as nationwide
Other Help Available
Other help is available for people who are not yet ready to make major changes in their drug-using behaviours or are not yet committed to engage in drug treatment. Services may provide harm reduction work, needle exchange, advice and information, crisis wrap-around work, drop-in and brief interventions or motivational work.
Who would benefit?
People who want help for drug misuse problems but are not yet ready to engage in structured treatment.
Who provides this service in Sheffield?
Needle exchanges are provided by Turning Point and Pharmacies; other interventions are provided by Turning Point and Phoenix Futures (see Directory to obtain contact details)
Help with Alcohol Problems
Sheffield now has a single point of referral for all alcohol problems. Clients are able to self refer, although formal referrals are still accepted.
Who would benefit?
A person who has problems related to their drinking but who is not taking any other substance.
Who provides this service in Sheffield?
The Single Entry and Accessment Point for Alcohol (0845 345 1549)
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Page last updated 22nd June 2010 at 1520 BST