Dash: Reducing Drug And Alcohol Harm

D. A. S. H. is a registered charity providing a range of support services for drug and alcohol misuse.

YPS (YOUNG PEOPLES SERVICES)

We provide advice, information and support. We have specialist services such as counselling. These services are available to families or friends of substance misuse users.

The out of hours service is a specialist drug and alcohol service for children and young people provided by DASH in locations across the Bridgend County Borough

SERVICES AVAILABLE
One to one support
Advice and information on:
Substance misuse
Sexual health
Education
Social and family issues
Counselling Services

LEAD ( LEARN, ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP )

AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE AT DASH
Sometimes a group of acupuncture points can be used without needing any diagnosis. This type of treatment is called a formula treatment.

The SMART UK auricular acupuncture formula treatment is one of these and is available to you here at OGWR DASH.

Ear acupuncture has been traditionally used to support people with addiction. However, more recently there has been an increase in this type of treatment being used to treat mental and emotional health issues. It has been found to be beneficial for individuals recovering from post-traumatic stress, self harm, anger management, sleep problems and many more. It has been used to support soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan.

The five points are all designed to help keep you calm, to aid your motivation, to keep anxiety at bay and improve your wellbeing.

QUALIFIED STAFF
The treatment will be carried out by staff members at OGWR DASH who will have been trained by SMART UK. Members of SMART are trained to deliver the highest standard of clinical care. Staff member will have been through an intense training course to qualify as a SMART member. They are also required to be reassessed every year.

THE BENEFITS
Remember that auricular acupuncture is a tool that is often used alongside other interventions such as Counselling. Auricular acupuncture benefits are proven by research.
• You may experience wellbeing without the use of chemicals
• Withdrawal symptoms may be reduced
• Anxiety levels may decrease
• Stress could be reduced
• Your sleep could be improved
• Panic attacks may be more manageable
• You may feel calmer and more energised
• You may feel more ready to engage in other services
• you could find yourself being able to relax better
• you may feel stable and more in control
• This could be the first steps to a new you

HOW DOES IT WORK
The simplest way to explain this is that the acupuncture needles stimulate nerves that go straight to the parts of the brain that have been imbalanced by the use of drugs and alcohol. Auricular acupuncture then works towards returning brain chemistry to normal.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What will happen when I come for treatment?

A: Firstly nothing will happen without your consent. On your first visit you will be asked to sign to give consent to a course of treatment. There after verbal consent can be given.

The practitioner will take a look at your ears and check the shape of them. Everyone’s ears are different, just like our fingerprints. This is only to check where the needles will be placed.

You will be given a wipe to clean your ears with before the treatment begins.

The practitioner will put the needles into your ear, one at a time. You will be asked to breathe in, and then breathe out and the needle will be inserted on the breath out.

Once all the needles are in you will be allowed to sit or lie quietly for 40 minutes.

After the 40 minutes the needles will be removed.

Q: WILL IT HURT

A: The needles used are extremely fine and are designed especially for this treatment. However, sometimes it will pinch a little, but the sensation id brief and SMART members are taught the quickest and least painful way of giving this treatment. You will be encouraged to concentrate on your breathing this will help.

Q: WILL I BLEED?

A: You will not bleed when the needles go in. You may bleed a little when the needles are removed. This is quite normal and you will be given a cotton wool ball to wipe up the blood.

If you are interested in having this treatment our staff here at OGWR DASH are always happy to discuss the process with you. Any questions you may have will be best answered by our trained practitioners. Please do not hesitate to ask them any questions you would like answered.

There is no such thing as a silly question…. just questions!

DASH ( DRUG, ALCOHOL, SUPPORT AND HELP )

OUT OF HOURS SERVICE

EVIDENCE OF NEED
Young people in the Bridgend County Borough were consulted and asked for a substance misuse service out of office hours, outside of the town centre and for the service to be provided in their area.

AIM OF THE PROJECT
The aim of the project has been to establish the need for an accessible extended Tier 2 out of hour’s specialist service at identified geographical bases within the borough:
• Wildmill
• Pencoed
• Maesteg
• Porthcawl

HOW THE SERVICE IS DELIVERED
The service is delivered over four evenings a week between 5. 30pm – 9pm and a Saturday Morning. The service has promoted accessibility outside school hours and outside of Bridgend Town Centre providing one to one support, advice and information on substance misuse, sexual health, education, social and family issues with further counselling offered on the basis of need. Having been successful in delivering the service around the Bridgend area, the project has been extended to more venues in rural communities, Blackmill, North Cornelly, Nantymoel, Blaengarw and Bettws, where there has been very little specialist substance misuse services provided. This has been achieved by calling fortnightly and engaging with young people and youth workers promoting a strong message of safety in using drugs, underage drinking and a safe consumption message for over 18’s.

FAMILES & CAREGIVERS
While delivering the service it became apparent more families and caregivers were approaching the out of hour’s worker looking for support with issues around drug and alcohol.
All young people will have some relationship with a parent or care giver, therefore taking into account the people who support them have been an important part of the service. Signposting and referrals into DASH’s family services have been offered for support, advice and guidance on skills to intervene appropriately helping to limit the harm caused by the young people’s substance misuse.

The skills and support offered by the out of hours service has helped provide a ladder for young people facing barriers due to their own or someone else’s substance misuse. To ensure they reach their full potential, develop goals and agree personal development plans helping them into work, education, homes and in turn helping them with social exclusion. Liasing between agencies and co-ordinating responses has proven to be successful. Additionally, offering family support to parents and main caregivers, tailoring services to each individual family needs, has helped to establish routines and activities for young people