People with Addiction Problems

Services available to people with addiction problems are:

  • single shared assessments
  • individual & family counselling
  • support for self help groups
  • rehabilitation
  • drop-in facilities/outreach facilities
  • information services
  • drug & alcohol assessments
  • GP support clinic
  • Specialist social worker support
  • Intensive interagency support services

Community Care plans for substance abuse are primarily concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation for those affected by drug and alcohol misuse. Prevention is a key issue and this is reflected in the Shetland Alcohol & Drug Action Team strategies. The aim is to minimise the harmful effects of alcohol and drug misuse, which requires a multi-agency approach.

There is a specialist Social Worker working part-time with people who have substance misuse problems. Generic social workers also undertake work with people with substance misuse problems.

Rehabilitation Programmes

The Alcohol Education Programme for offenders is run by Social Care and the Alcohol Advice Centre. This offers an Alcohol Awareness Course for individuals convicted of drink/driving and other alcohol related offences.

The Diversion from Prosecution Scheme is intended to offer supervision to people of all ages including young people who have been charged with possession of drugs, or with a minor offence where alcohol has been involved, thus avoiding a criminal record.

Alcohol Advice Centre

Aims to provide a high Quality, confidential service to all users and to tackle alcohol misuse in Shetland by:

  • The provision of a quality one-to-one counselling service for individuals who misuse alcohol
  • Advice, support and counselling to families, friends and partners
  • The promotion of alcohol awareness and health education in alcohol matters
  • The provision of education, training and advice on alcohol and sensible drinking
  • Drop-In

Drop-In opening times

Mon/Tues/Friday: 10am - 5pm

Wed/Thurs - 10am - 1pm (1pm - 5pm by appointment only)

Answering machine at all other times.

Appointments can be made outwith opening hours to suit individual need. They also offer an outreach service and on under16's counsellor.

Staff are available: Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm

These services are available to all of Shetland.

Contact:Alcohol Advice Centre, 44 Commercial Street, Lerwick Tel: 01595 695363 or Fax: 01595 692801 or e-mail: aac@care4free.net

Alcoholics Anonymous Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Meetings every Friday evening in the Congregational Church Hall at 7.00pm

Local contact numbers: 01595 693063

Hamnavoe: 01595 859427

Sumburgh: 01950 422266 or Tel: 0345 697555 or the national number: 0845 769 755

Al-Ateen

Provide a helpline for young people concerned about their own drinking or someone else's.

Tel: 0141 221 7356

 

Shetland Community Drugs Team

This initiative is jointly funded by the Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland and run by a voluntary Board of Directors.

Drugs workers and trained volunteers provide specialist help and support.

There is a GP prescribing clinic for the drug dependent clients.

Shetland Community Drugs Team (SCDT) is a voluntary organisation offering confidential counselling, support, information, advice and practical help to anyone with a drug related problem, their family, partner or friends. Where access to project based services is problematic, arrangements may be made to meet you in your own home or another mutually convenient and confidential place.

SCDT will assist you in accessing other appropriate information and support services.

SCDT can also deliver training to other professionals or community groups on drugs and related issues.

Contact: Gill Hession on Tel: 01595 696698 or Fax: 01595 697346

Shetland Community Bike Project

The aims of this project are to provide a therapeutic activity for clients referred from the Alcohol Advice Centre, Shetland Link Up and the Drugs Project and promote cycling by selling hiring out bike and organising social cycling events.

Contact:

Caroline Leask, Peterson's Closs, Lerwick Tel: 01595 690077 or Fax: 01595 690077

or e-mail: bikeproject@care4free.net

Young People (under 16) with Addiction Problems

Alcohol and drugs education is part of the curriculum of every Secondary and Junior High School as part of a Healthy Lifestyles promotion.

A Childcare social worker is available to those who have substance misuse problems.

Advice and information is included in the remit of the Youth Work Service which supports a Shetland-wide network of youth clubs staffed by part-time youth workers. The Shetland Youth Information Service also provide advice and counselling to young people on a range of subjects including substance misuse.

The Alcohol Advice Centre have an under 16s counsellor working with young people offering support and counselling.

Websites

www.alcoholconcern.org.uk - working to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol related harm

For further information please see our Leaflets page and the Other Organisations page.