Scottish Drugs Forum
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21 October 2003
Help with employment, voluntary work and training are the top three priorities for service users in Castlemilk, according to a study of service provision in the giant Glasgow housing estate.
The needs of, and current service provision to, grandparents and principal carers looking after the children of drug users should also be assessed, the survey has also concluded.
There are a significant number of drug-free or stable service users who could be engaging with mainstream services and progressing issues relating to education, training and employment, says the report “People and Providers”, which was produced on behalf of the Castlemilk Partnership Addictions Task Group.
However, there is a lack of both service provision for older drug users, aged 31 plus, and non-statutory drug funding in the local area, the report has found.
The report – intended to highlight gaps in service provision - is a combination of two separate surveys to assess what providers and users think about local service provision. The surveys also aimed to identify good practice and highlight potential areas for development through recommendations for new or increased funding.
The study of 71 current and former service users found that users may become isolated from agencies due to having to wait for suitable services. Drug-specific agencies noted that drug using clients with mental health problems might have difficulty accessing an appropriate service, stated the report.
Nearly all 24 service providers interviewed identified practical and emotional support for families of drug users as very important and the report said that grandparents and principal carers of children of drug users should be consulted over their support needs.
More resources, drug training, improved joint working, supported accommodation, more information on resources, outreach work, extension of hours and accessibility and extra blood-borne virus service provision were also among the key suggestions made by providers.
Researchers found that service users thought they were making progress in their lives and that nearly half were at a stage where they could reasonably expect to engage with mainstream services to address their needs.
However, 69 percent felt they needed more help and support than they could get from their primary service and half were dissatisfied with the amount of information they were provided with.
The report concluded that there was a clear demand among users for personal development skills training and information and advice about HIV and Hepatitis. There was also a need for appropriate services to provide good quality advice and information on housing and debt.
Scottish Drugs Forum’s User Involvement Team managed the peer research programme, which involved four former users interviewing current and ex-service users over five weeks at the end of 2002. Involving drug using clients in designing future feedback systems was another key recommendation.