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Project worker
in drugs drop in
I am based in a street agency in Scotland.
No two days are ever quite the same. Our clients experience
problems with a range of different drugs, including heroin,
crack, cannabis and even steroids. Our first priority is to
engage clients - providing them with a friendly and warm environment
off the streets. But our over-riding purpose is to provide
harm reduction advice, on-going support, and encouragement
and support in addressing their needs - in relation to their
drugs use and other needs, such as housing. We also provide
a needle exchange service in the centre - giving injecting
drug users clean needles in exchange for used ones. I came
to the field as a volunteer, and was lucky enough to be taken
on at the same agency. I am currently preparing a portfolio
of evidence towards the OU/FDAP Award in Competences for Drug
& Alcohol Professionals.
Nurse in specialist addictions
clinic
I am based in a specialist addictions
clinic in the South East which provides prescribing services
and a needle exchange facility, as well as general health
care, to people with severe drug related problems. My role
entails assessing the needs of new clients, making recommendations
on their prescribing needs as required, referring on to residential
rehabilitation where appropriate (via the local Community
Care Team), and supervising the needle exchange service. I
am a qualified nurse, have completed the Royal College of
GPs Certificate in the Management of Drug Misuse (Part 1)
and am Accredited as a Drug & Alcohol Professional with
FDAP.
Arrest referral worker
I work as an arrest referral worker
in a number of police custody suites in the South West. Drugs
are a common issue for offenders and can often be a big factor
in their offending. I see anyone who has tested positive for
drugs on arrest, and explain the implications of this for
them, as well as exploring with them options they might have
for addressing their drug using behaviour. I also provide
advice and support to other people who have been arrested
if they have a drug-related problem which they wish to discuss.
I worked as a community safety officer before completing a
certificate in drugs awareness. I am now working towards an
NVQ in Health & Social Care, with options from the DANOS
set of units.
Counsellor in residential rehab
I originally trained as a general
counsellor and worked in private practice with clients with
a range of different presenting problems. I developed an interest
in the substance misuse field having worked with a number
of clients who were experiencing problems with alcohol or
drugs. I now work in a residential rehabilitation centre in
Wales which offers abstinence-based treatment to both alcohol
and drug using clients. I provide one to one counselling and
run groups focusing on helping people to address their substance
use and live a life free from drugs and alcohol. Since joining
the field I have continued my training - completing a Masters
in Addiction Counselling, and becoming Accredited as a Drug
& Alcohol Counsellor with FDAP.
Substance misuse liaison worker
in housing agency
I work in a service providing housing
to the homeless in London. Many of our clients have drug and
alcohol problems. I am the substance misuse lead for the service.
Where I or one of my colleagues identifies that a client may
have issues related to drugs or alcohol, I will go and see
them and attempt to engage them on the matter. Where someone
is willing to discuss the matter and indicates a desire for
possible help, I will advise them on the options available
to them and help make an appointment one of the local specialist
agencies as required. My background is in housing, but I have
completed certificates in drugs awareness and alcohol awareness
at a local college - and I am hoping to study for an NVQ in
Health and Social Care in due course.
Prison “CARAT” worker
I am a CARAT worker in prison in the
North East. We are the focal point of contact for prisoners
with drug problems. CARAT stands for Counselling, Assessment,
Referral, Advice and Throughcare. We assess people’s
needs, provide advice, guidance and on-going counselling where
appropriate, refer on as required, and make arrangements to
try to ensure a person’s on-going needs are addressed
after release. I originally trained as a counsellor, but after
a spell as a volunteer with NACRO working with offenders with
drug and alcohol problems completed a level 3 diploma in working
with substance misusers and joined the Prison Service as a
CARAT worker three years ago. I have recently become Accredited
as a Drug and Alcohol Professional with FDAP.
Alcohol outreach worker
I work as an alcohol outreach worker
in the North West. Most of my work is with 'street drinkers',
trying to engage the clients, provide them with support, and
help to address their needs, including in finding housing
or temporary shelter if they want it. I also provide alcohol
education in schools, and am part of a team of specialists
who accompany police patrols around the city centre pubs and
clubs at weekends. My background is in social care - as a
social care assistant, and I have a diploma in counselling.
This is my first job in the field - and I am currently on
'induction', working closely with a qualified alcohol worker
and going to college on a day release basis once a week to
study for a certificate in alcohol awareness. On completing
my induction I intend to do an NVQ in Health and Social Care.
Young persons drug and alcohol
worker
My job
involves three different areas of work: providing emotional
support to the children of drug and alcohol using parents;
working with young drug and alcohol users to help address
their substance use, focusing on harm minimisation and helping
them to tackle their substance use itself; providing drugs
and alcohol awareness education in local schools. I have worked
in the past as a teaching assistant, completed courses in
alcohol and drugs awareness and done voluntary work in a local
housing agency for problem drinkers. I am currently
working towards an NVQ in Youth Work and the OU/FDAP award
in Assessment and Care Planning for Substance Users.
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Substance
misuse professionals work in a wide variety of roles - including:
drug and alcohol testing; assessment; care planning; education;
advice, guidance & support; needle exchange; structured
counselling and other psychological interventions; and medical
treatments.
For
more information about the drugs and alcohol field, see our
fortnightly magazine - Drink & Drugs News. You
can register for free copies of the magazine, and view the
latest and previous issues, through the magazine 
Many
agencies offer volunteering opportunities. As well as being
valuable in its own right, volunteering is a good way of gaining
experience in the field. 