Breaking Free from Addiction

Wolverhampton Drug Service User Lifestyle Magazine May - June 2012

Service Directory

Service User Poems

Hep C Trust Van

Simple Recipe

Interview with Steve

USB Giveaway

SUIT are giving away FREE 1GB USB Sticks pre loaded with a CV Template and Breaking free Volunteer Application Form to anyone who signs up to a Learn Direct from addiction Course through SUIT.

Substance Magazine Editorial Group.

This magazine is put together by Wolverhamp- ton Service User Involvement Team who hold weekly editorial group meetings to discuss its content, printing etc. If you would like to be part of the Team please call us on (01902) 328983 or text your details to 80809 starting your message with the word SUIT.

Welcome to issue 29 of Substance magazine, Firstly i would like to say goodbye for now and good luck to Caroline our admin worker who has gone on maternity leave, and hello to Suzanne who is covering the post and who was a volunteer for us. Welcome to the team!!

I hope you enjoy this issue of Substance magazine, we have included info on all of our activities, available to anyone accessing Wolverhampton drug and alcohol treatment services, please come along and get involved.

We were lucky enough in April to have the Hep C trust come down to Wolverhampton with their van to test people their and then, it was a great turn out (considering the weather), thanks to all our volunteers who helped out on the day, see page 8 for the full story.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue of the magazine, please continue to send us your work, the magazine wouldn't exist without it!!

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this work, no responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any statement in it, can be accepted by the editor or by Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council Service User Involvement Team,2 What’s inside this edition Contents Page

The latest news Pg 4-5

The Light– Poem Pg 6

Goodbye Letter Pg 7

Hepatitis C Van Pg 8

SUIT Activities Pg 9

Brains wired for addiction? Pg 10-11

Cannabis memory effects examined Pg 12-13

Solvents– The Low Down Pg 14

A page for you Pg 15-16

Easy recipe Pg 17

Russell Brand– More compassion Pg 18-19

It’s Time Pg 20

Time Out Pg 21

No more Cafe’s Pg 22-23

Local NA meetings Pg 24

Needle Exchange Pharmacies Pg 25

Local service Directory Pg 26-27

DON’T FORGET Anyone can contribute an article, poem, story, question etc. Send your stuff FREE to: SUIT, c/o WVSC, FREEPOST MID14051,3 Wolverhampton, WV2 4BR. News - News - News – News - News - News - News - News

Mexxy’ banned under temporary drug order

The ‘legal high’ methoxetamine – also known as MXE or mexxy – has become the first substance to be banned under a temporary class drug order (TCDO). TCDOs, which came into effect late last year (DDN, December 2011, page 4), give the home secretary power to ban any substance consid- ered potentially harmful for a period of 12 months, pending advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on a permanent ban.

Methoxetamine has been advertised on the internet since late 2010 as a ‘safe’ and legal alternative to ketamine, the effects of which it is said to mimic. According to advice from ACMD submitted to the home secretary, the chemical structure of methoxetamine closely resembles that of both ketamine and phencyclidine (PCP).

The ACMD said that while there was very little information on the prevalence of methoxetamine use in the UK, there had been at least nine cases of analytically-confirmed acute methoxetamine toxicity in UK hospi- tals in the last six months. Although the drug is marketed as a ‘bladder- friendly’ version of ketamine – long-term use of which is associated with chronic bladder pathology – the chronic harms associated with the substance remained unknown, said ACMD.

People caught supplying, manufacturing or importing the drug will now face up to 14 years in prison. Crime minister Lord Henley said the ban showed that the UK was ‘leading the way in cracking down on new psy- choactive substances’.

The home secretary has also informed the ACMD that a review of the latest evidence on ketamine itself is ‘now warranted’, as part of a letter set- ting out priorities for inclusion in the council’s 2012-13 work programme. ACMD last reviewed ketamine in 2004, which led to the drug’s classification as class C under Labour.

4 News - News - News – News - News - News - News - News

Liver disease deaths in England up 25%

Deaths from liver disease: implications for end of life care in England shows a 25 per cent increase in deaths from liver disease between 2001 and 2009, from just over 9,200 to more than 11,500.

Around 90 per cent of people who die from liver disease are under 70, with the disease accounting for more than one in ten deaths of people in their 40s. Alcohol-related liver disease accounted for 37 per cent of all liver disease deaths – 30 per cent among women and 41 per cent among men. Just 28 per cent of alcohol-related liver disease deaths occurred in the least deprived areas, compared to 44 per cent in the most deprived.

‘The key drivers for increasing numbers of deaths from liver disease are all preventable, such as alcohol, obesity, hepatitis C and hepatitis B,’ said national clinical director for liver disease, professor Martin Lombard. ‘We must focus our efforts and tackle this problem sooner rather than later.’ People were also being diagnosed late in their condition, said British Liver Trust chief executive Andrew Langford, exposing the ‘inadequacies in our healthcare system in identifying patients early and the lack of will to invest in prevention strategies’.

Farewell Dr Ryan More Compassion SUIT would like to say a massive Comedian and actor Russell Brand goodbye and good luck to Dr has told MPs taking drugs should George Ryan. Dr Ryan has been not be seen as a "criminal or judi- working with addiction services for cial matter" but a "health issue". 10 years, and over those years has Speaking at the Home Affairs gone out of his way to help and Select Committee inquiry into support service users in anyway pos- drugs policy he said: "We need to sible. change the laws in this country You will be sadly missed by the staff and have a more compassionate, and service users within Wolver- altruistic, loving attitude to the hampton drug treatment services. people with the disease of addiction." More on page 18!!! Good luck for the future!! 5 The Light

You sit alone in a lonely place Not realising the time that you waste But the high it gets higher and higher Its hard to look away from the things you desire

And when it all takes over you You don't even realise the things that you do no more Its just up for the score Yeah You wake up and you just want more, you just want more......

But don't let the bad times bring you down You can be happy, you don't have to frown I look at the stars and I look at the lights and I look at the trees and I think about life Cause life is wide open and anything can Happen you might even meet the person who might even save your life

By Dan Richards

To listen to more of Daniels work just visit www.soundcloud.com/daniel-richards-guitar/the- light www.soundcloud.com/dannyrmusic

6 GOODBYE LETTER

5th March 2012 Mr Big Bud 101 Cloud Nine Road to nowhere Red Eye City WRO NGUN Dear Big Bud, I am writing this letter to say goodbye forever, as I have finally realised that I don’t need you in my life anymore, I used to use you to relieve myself from stress and get away from everyday life of bore- dom but now I have found coping strategies to help me deal with these feeling’s I have being without you. You have been in my life since I was 11 years old,14 whole years and you never gave me chance to live my life as a child, you made me grow up way too quick which led me to hang round with people at ages 18-20 while I was still a young child, you took over which then you led me to bigger/harder substances, you have messed with my head for too long and my memory is rubbish thanks to you, I used you while talking my GCSE’s and due to this I went on to try harder drugs, I never completed any GCSE’s at all, I even got offered £500 per exam I took, by my step dad, which was 9 altogether which is £4,500 you, along with other substances, cost me at the time because I was more interested in you, let alone all the money I have wasted on you, I would be able to buy me own house by now if it weren’t for you, I also have an unborn child to think about and if I continue to use you, you will become part of my child’s life and I can’t have that, you are not taking away her innocence too, which is what would happen if you I stayed with you. I have lived without you now for 4 months and never in my life did I think that was possible, I thought I would be stuck with you forever and you were all I knew but now I know that’s not true. I do know that saying goodbye to you will be the best thing I will ever do in my life. I won’t miss you but I will remember you forever and when I am on top and get the career, my own home & happy family and achieved everything I want to do in life. I will be thankful of this day that I wrote to you to say goodbye! Take Care

Anonymous

The man in the van

The Hep C Trust was in Wolverhampton with their van doing free mouth swab tests opposite Horizon House. The day was a success we had 22 people turn up for testing of which 15 people got tested. Even though 7 people did not get tested it was still a success this means that we managed to get the message out there, therefore making people think to get checked. Out of the 15 people that got tested, 2 people tested positive and are now getting the support they need through Horizon House, Suit offered support to everybody on the day and will continue to offer support to those who need it. This day was successful due to us being able to put flyers up around all the services with their support, also it helped that Suit volunteers were able to get out in the community and speak to people making them aware of the day, we also sent text messages out to everybody on Suits text systems.

If you or anybody you know are worried about hepatitis contact Horizon House 01902 444030 or the Hepatitis C Trust on 0845 223 4424

SUIT run a number of free activities which are set up for users of Wolverhampton Drug or Alcohol services. Call us on 01902 328983 or visit www.suiteam.com for more info.

Plus Much More......

Call 0800 781 7082 for support and help on how9 to sort out any debt issues that you are facing. Brains may be wired for addiction

Abnormalities in the brain may make some people more likely to become drug addicts, according to scientists at the University of Cambridge.

They found the same differences in the brains of addicts and their non-addicted brothers and sisters. The study, published in the journal Science, suggested addiction is in part a "disorder of the brain". Other experts said the non-addicted siblings offered hope of new ways of teaching addicts "self-control". It has long been established that the brains of drug addicts have some differences to other people, but explaining that finding has been more difficult. Experts were unsure whether drugs changed the wiring of the brain or if drug addicts' brains were wired differently in the first place. This study, funded by the Medical Research Council, attempted to answer that by comparing the brains of 50 cocaine or crack addicts with the brain of their brother or sister, who had always been clean. Both the addicts and the non-addict siblings had the same abnormalities in the region of the brain which controls behaviour, the fronto-striatal systems. The suggestion is that these brains may be "hard-wired" for addiction in the first place. Lead researcher Dr Karen Ersche said: "It has long been known that not everyone who takes drugs becomes addicted."

Case Study

Sophia has the pallor and nervousness of a long-term user of cocaine and crack. Her elder sister Teresa is smartly-dressed and de- scribes herself as a control freak. They went through the tests and the scans and were surprised to find that they share the same abnormalities of the brain. It's a discovery that makes their contrasting lives all the more remarkable. Sophia is receiving treatment but admits she has trouble with self- control. 10

Theresa, with a similar biological predisposition to addiction, has found the strength of character to stay clean. Poles apart, they are nevertheless devoted to each other and these findings bring them closer. A unique project has an unex- pectedly moving outcome. She told the BBC: "It shows that drug addiction is not a choice of lifestyle, it is a disorder of the brain and we need to recognise this." However, the non-addicted siblings had a very different life despite sharing the same susceptibility. "These brothers and sisters who don't have addiction problems, what they can tell us is how they overcome these problems, how they manage self-control in their daily life," Dr Karen Ersche said. Dr Paul Keedwell, a consultant psychiatrist at Cardiff University, said: "Addiction, like most psychiatric disorders, is the product of nature and nurture. "We need to follow up people over time to quantify the relative risk of nature versus nurture." It is possible that the similarities in the sibling's brains may not be down to genetics, but rather growing up in the same household. Research on the relationship between addiction and the structure of the brain is far from over. However, many specialists believe these findings open up new ave- nues for treatment. "If we could get a handle on what makes unaffected relatives of addicts so resilient we might be able to prevent a lot of addiction from taking hold," said Dr Keedwell. The chief pharmacist for Derbyshire Mental Health Trust, David Bran- ford, said the study, "implies that addiction does not produce no- ticeable changes to brain structure and function which means that there may be provision for looking at new treatment techniques for addiction". Prof Les Iversen, from the department of pharmacology at the Uni- versity of Oxford, said: "These new findings reinforce the view that the propensity to addiction is dependent on inherited differences in brain circuitry, and offer the possibility of new ways of treating high- risk individuals to develop better 'self control'." 11 Cannabis memory effects examined

Scientists believe they are closer to understanding how taking cannabis disrupts short-term memory. The Canadian team from Ottawa University narrowed the effect down to a particular type of brain cell called an astrocyte. Writing in the journal Cell, they said it might be possible to block it in medi- cines based on cannabis. A UK researcher said it could reveal more about natural brain chemicals. Cannabis floods the brain with a host of chemicals which mimic one of its own subtle signalling systems, leading to pronounced changes in mood and memory. Scientists are trying to harness the power of these chemicals, called cannabinoids, in pharmaceuticals aimed at conditions such as multiple scle- rosis and chronic pain. The doses of cannabinoid are carefully controlled to avoid the "high" feeling. The work by the Ottawa University researchers may shed light on how one of the best known cannabinoids, THC, acts on the brain. 12

Memory matters

Their work suggests that, when it comes to affecting memory, THC is acting not, as might be expected, on the brain's neurons, but on a brain cell called an astrocyte. They bred mice whose astrocytes could not be affected by THC, and found that their spatial memory was unaffected by the dose. This discovery could help drug companies reduce the risk of unwanted side effects when using THC in their products, they suggested. However, possibly more importantly, it could shed light on the brain's own chemical pathways, the "endocannabinoid" system. Dr Xia Zhang, one of the researchers, said: "Just about any physiological function you can think of in the body, it's likely at some point endocan- nabinoids are involved." Understanding how this system works could lead to ways to make it work better, he suggested. "We may find a way to deal with working memory problems in Alz- heimer's," he said. Prof Heather Ashton, from the University of Newcastle, said that memory problems were an established feature of cannabis use, and understanding the mechanism behind them was "interesting". She said: "When someone is taking cannabis, in some cases you find that they cannot even remember starting a sentence by the time they reach the end." But she agreed that the practical benefits of such research might ulti- mately lie in a better understanding of the body's own endocannabinoid system, rather than the effects of cannabis itself.

13 Solvents-The Low Down

Solvents are household chemicals that give off fumes, such as glue, hairspray and paint, which are inhaled for drug-like effects. Get clued-up on solvent abuse here, including the dangers, the side-effects and ways it can kill you... What is it? Solvents are usually household chemicals that give off fumes. They are things like glue, hairspray, gas refills for lighters, paints, thinners and cor- recting fluids. The fumes are inhaled, often from a plastic bag. How does it make you feel? Sniffing dulls your senses and makes you feel woozy and perhaps a bit gig- gly. The effects only last 15-40 minutes. When they wear off it is quite common to feel sick and headachey. If you keep going on glue for a long time, then you can start to feel very unreal and will probably throw up quite a lot. What are the health effects? Sniffing solvents from a bag is likely to give you a rash around your mouth and it can damage the lining of your nose and airways. Accidents are much more likely if you are out of it on solvents. Solvents are really quite poisonous. If you use them regularly, these chemicals will damage your brain, liver and kidneys. Never spray solvents directly down your throat. This could kill you or leave you very sick indeed. The law It is illegal for shopkeepers to sell butane gas lighter refills to anyone under the age of 18. It is illegal for shopkeepers to sell other solvents to under 18s if they suspect that they are for sniffing. 14

NO NO

Stamp

required

User Service InvolvementTeam SUIT, c/o WVSC, c/o WVSC, SUIT, MID14051, FREEPOST Wolverhampton, 4BR. WV2

15 A Page For You!

This page has been left blank so you can send us your stories, poems or anything else you would like to see in the magazine, simply tear the page out and send it to our freepost address printed on the opposite side of the page. (If you don’t want your name with it, you don't have to)

16 Chicken pasta

with cabbage and bacon

Serves: 4 Prep time: 10 mins Cooking time: 15 mins Total time: 25 mins Cost: £1.70 per portion

 4 chicken breasts (with skin on)  4tbsp olive oil  250g (9oz) penne pasta  150g (5½ oz) streaky bacon, sliced  ½ Savoy cabbage, shredded  10 spring onions, thickly sliced

 Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F, gas mark 7). Season the chicken and drizzle with half the oil. Roast the meat, skin side up, for 15 mins.  Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the pack instructions. Fry the bacon in the remaining oil until crisp, then add the cabbage and spring onions and fry for a further 2 mins.  Drain the pasta and toss with the bacon, vegetables and chicken juices. Serve with the chicken on top.

17 More Compassion!!

Comedian Russell Brand has told MPs that taking drugs should not be seen as a "criminal or judicial matter" and users should be shown more compassion.

Appearing in Parliament, Mr Brand said drug addiction was primarily a "health matter" and decriminalising drugs could be "useful" in some areas. But he said he opposed a "wacky free for all", saying his life had not been improved by extensive use.

The Home Affairs Committee is looking at government policy and sanctions. Mr Brand told MPs about his fight against addiction, for which he has received successful treatment.

'Pragmatic' Asked whether he supported the legalisation of drugs, he said he did not believe he was "particularly qualified" to make that judgement and that frequent drug use "did not help me". "For me what is more significant is the way we socially regard the condition of addiction," he said. "It is something I consider to be an illness, and therefore more of health matter than a criminal or judicial matter. "It is more important that we regard people suffering from addiction with compassion and there is a pragmatic rather than a symbolic approach to treating it." ' Out of touch' He said trials in countries such as Portugal showed decriminalisation of some drugs could prove "useful and efficient".

“Start Quote There is a degree of cowardice and wilful ignorance about this condition” He described his frequent arrests for possession of drugs as an "administrative blip" and said resources should be shifted away from the policing of drugs to education and treatment. "As a drug addict, the legal status (of a drug) is an irrelevance," he told MPs. "At best it is an inconvenience." He added: "There is a degree of cowardice and wilful ignorance about this condition. There needs to be honesty and authenticity on this issue so Parliament does not look out of touch." In his 2007 autobiography, Mr Brand spoke about his extensive use of drugs and how his "love" of heroin, in particular, had damaged his rela- tionships, health and career. He told MPs that he had started taking drugs as a result of a mental and psychological condition - comparing it to a "spiritual malady" - and this was connected to excessive drinking. Mr Brand appeared alongside the boss of Focus12, the charity which helped with his rehabilitation and recovery. Chip Somers, the head of the Suffolk-based charity, told MPs there was a big difference between legalisation and decriminalisation and the argu- ment for the latter was much stronger. He said he favoured an abstinence-based approach to treatment as the best way to "stop harm" to drug users and their families.

'Wrong' Tuesday's session is the fourth the committee has conducted as part of what it intends to be a "comprehensive" study of the UK's drugs policy. It is also hearing from witnesses opposed to any relaxation of the laws on drug use - journalist Peter Hitchens, Kathy Gyngell from the Centre for Pol- icy Studies and Mary Brett from 'Cannabis Skunk Sense', which seeks to draw attention to the risks posed by cannabis. Hitchens said the government had "abandoned many years ago" at- tempts to prohibit the use and possession of cannabis and some Class A drugs - claiming there was a "de facto decriminalisation". He said that drug use was "wrong" and the law should clearly state this. Ms Gyngell said cocaine use was only "common in certain circles" and that if decriminalised, the rate of usage would rise sharply. The committee has previously taken evidence from medical professionals involved in drug treatment and drug education.

19 It’s Time

Eight and a half months without a drop of alcohol in my system I feel really great in myself, it’s neither a target nor a challenge It’s not a bet between others not even a toss of a coin or roll of a dice I can sit down, maybe sit back knowing today and every other day that goes by I don’t have to put the poison up towards my lips After twenty three years of my addiction to alcohol I seriously hope and pray That I’ll never pick up, even if it comes to a really down, painful day I think I'm getting close to seeing the end of a long, long path In and out of deep thoughts that fly through my head I’m sure now it’s time to break through, to start my new life, my journey. By M. Baynham

20 Time out!!!

Inspirational quotes:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. Aristotle

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavour to be what you desire to appear. - Socrates

I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. - Thomas Edison

If you’re going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill

Sudoku:

21 Dutch cannabis cafe owners fight changes

A Dutch judge has ruled that tourists can legally be banned from entering cannabis cafes, as part of new restrictions which come into force this year. The Netherlands is famous for its liberal approach to soft drugs. Cannabis cafes or coffee shops are a common sight in most cities and a major attraction for tourists. While it is not strictly legal to smoke cannabis here, its use is tolerated. The Dutch government decriminalised the possession of less than five grams of cannabis in 1976. But now it wants to tighten the restrictions. The new law is designed to cut the numbers of drug tourists who, some residents had complained, were creating nuisances like traffic jams and an increase of hard drug dealers on the streets. The change in the law is also designed to reduce cross-border crime caused by foreigners coming to the Netherlands to buy their drugs then returning to sell them illegally at home. From 1 May, coffee shops in the southern provinces of Zeeland, North Bra- bant and Limburg will become members-only clubs. They will be allowed to issue up to 2,000 membership cards, also known as "weed passes" to residents over the age of 18. The new rules are due to be rolled out across the country in January 2013. 'Discrimination' There are around 700 coffee shops in the Netherlands. The group of 19 owners who took the case to court claims the cannabis-for-locals-only law is illegal because it discriminates between EU citizens on the basis of where they live. Marc Josemans runs the 'Easy Going' coffee shop in Maastricht and has been one of the most outspoken opponents22 of the ban. He says the new law designed to cut crime will actually have the opposite effect. "People come here because they know they can buy cannabis. After the ban they will still come but when they find they're not allowed inside then they will go outside and the dangerous criminal drug dealers will be wait- ing for them with open arms, " Mr Josemans says. Tourism blow? In Amsterdam, even the mayor is opposed to the new law. Eberhard van der Laan says Amsterdam does not suffer major problems from pot smok- ers, and that it does not make sense to apply the same policy developed for the border cities. The city relies heavily on tourism with an estimated third of visitors drawn in by the prospect of being able to take advantage of the relaxed approach to smoking cannabis. Now there are fears that the new law could be a big blow for the tourism industry. Wider crackdown But John, an Amsterdam resident, told the BBC that he supported the judge's ruling. "All we have achieved in the last 50 years is to empower criminals, who continue to supply these cafes," he said. "The mayor of Amsterdam should be working on other ways of making money, rather than encouraging the sale of drugs to tourists. This latest tightening of the law is part of a wider crackdown on drugs in- troduced by the recently collapsed coalition Conservative-led government. In October strong cannabis was reclassified as a hard drug, amid con- cerns about its potentially psychotic effects. The move forced cannabis coffee shops to remove the more popular, stronger varieties from their shelves. 23

Wolverhampto n ►Thursday 4:30 pm YMCA Bridge, Temple Street

►Friday 7:30 pm Methodist Church, Darlington Street

West Bromwic h ►Wednesday 7:30 pm Chapter House, Phoenix St (upstairs in lounge ring bell for access).

W a l s a l l ►Tuesday 6:45pm Lantern House, 130 Lichfield Road, Walsall

►Tuesday 7:00 pm S.t Matthews centre, Walsall (women’s meeting)

S t o u r b r i d g e / D u d l e y

►Tuesday 8:00 pm Gibbs House, Gibbs Rd, off Bald Lane, Lye.

►Wednesday 6:30 pm ‘The Warehouse, Atlantic House, Dudley Rd. (Building behind the Bronx).

24 NA Help Line: 0300 9991212 A List of Pharmacies In Wolverhampton who Offer Needle Exchange All equipment is provided free of charge

A Brickley Ltd, 88 Griffiths Drive, WV11 2JW All Saints Pharmacy, 91-93 All Saints Road, WV2 1DR Alpharm Ltd, 468 Stafford Road, WV10 6AP Anderson Chemist, 311 Dudley Road, WV2 3JE Boots Pharmacy, 40-41 Dudley Street, WV1 3ER Boots Pharmacy, Bentley Bridge Park, Wednesfield, WV11 1BP Boots Pharmacy, 100 Church Street, Bilston, WV14 0BJ Brooklands Pharmacy, 48 Brooklands Parade, WV1 2NE Brutons Pharmacy, 1 Mervyn Place, Bilston, WV14 8DD Co-op Pharmacy, Avion Centre, 6 Bargate Drive, WV6 0QW Co-op Pharmacy, 425 Dudley Road, WV2 3AH Co-op Pharmacy, 8 Showell Circus, WV10 9BA Co-op, Pendeford Health Centre, Whitburn Close, WV9 5NJ Essington Pharmacy, 129 Long Knowle Lane, WV11 1JG HN Pharmacy, 124 Cannock Road, WV10 8PW Jhoots Pharmacy, 50 Newhampton Road West, WV6 0RY Lloyds Pharmacy, 323/325 Penn Road, WV4 5QF Lloyds Pharmacy, 34/35 Thornley Street, WV1 1JP Lloyds Pharmacy, 18-20 The Broadway, WV10 8EB Lloyds Pharmacy, 45 Church Street, WV14 0AX Lloyds Pharmacy, Lower Street, WV6 9NS Lloyds Pharmacy, 181 Wednesfield Road, WV10 0EN Lloyds Pharmacy, 18 High Street, Wednesfield, WV11 1SZ Meerapharm, 331 Bushbury Lane, WV10 9UJ Murrays Healthcare, 128 Childs Avenue, Coseley, WV14 9XB Phoenix Pharmacy, Phoenix Health Centre, Parkfield Road, WV4 6ED Staveley Chemist, 212 Staveley Road, WV1 4RH Supercare Pharmacy, 135 Dudley Road, WV2 3HD Superdrug Pharmacy, 65/67 Mander Square, WV1 3NN Tettenhall Wood Pharmacy, 12 School Road, WV6 8EN 25 Look out for this sign on the shop front to find out if they provide the service Local Service Directory

LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

The Methodist Cen- tre. 24 School Street, Wolverhampton

Morning Service 10.30 – 11.30 a.m. Monday & Thursday: Dry Food, Gents Clothes, Male Showers Friday: Gents Clothes, Male Shower

Afternoon Service: 2 – 3.30 pm. Daily: Service of Food Packages

If you need any advice or guidance on Homelessness The Lords issues feel free to contact Wolver- Soup Kitchen hampton City Full Meals Council on the served details below -: between 7 & 9pm - : Homeless Services Sun and Wed. Unit For anyone in Social Services need. Wolverhampton City All Welcome Council Civic Centre St. Peter's Square Wolverhampton

Tel -: Opening Hrs (01902) 421904 St. Georges 09:15 -17:00

St Marks Rd ● Provide advice & guidance Chapel Ash ● Activities like life skills, literacy etc W’ton ● Signposting WV3 09H Hub ● Benefits & Tenancy advice Local Service Directory

Service User Involvement Team S U I T Full Address: Helping to c/o WVSC improve 16 Temple Street Wolverhampton drug WV2 4AN treatment Tel No -: and lives 01902 328983 www.suiteam.com

Subs – See young people across the city at various Dental Health Project community venues. Free dental treatment and Telephone advice for service users! Number: Monday’s 9am to 4pm @ Dr Ryan’s (01902) 572041 Surgery First avenue Low Hill Opening Hours:

Tuesday’s 1:30pm to 4pm @ Monday to Thursday - 9am - 6pm Whitmore Reans health centre Friday - 9am - 5pm (behind Avion centre) Offers; Group Work, Key Work, Harm Reduction, Substitute Prescribing, Just drop in or call 01902 444460 for Acupuncture, Family Therapy, more info. General Drug Information. How has it expanded since you first began?

It started initially in 2006 with just one four bedroom house, since then we have opened up another two houses in Sheldon, Birmingham, three in Solihull and one in Sandwell. In 2009 Changes became a Community Interest Com- pany, social enterprise. In 2010 we were funded by Sandwell to set up a house in that area, the initial funding for Steve Dixon one year has been extended for an- CEO of Changes other year. We have recently been What is Changes? funded by Solihull to open a new provi- Changes is a supported housing project sion for people who are preparing for "Providing accommodation and support rehab, have recently left custody or to those whose lives have been affected have left rehab, the 30 day rule does by addiction - facilitating the transition not apply at this project, the support is from dependence to independence”. more intensive here and when they have completed their 30 days they can What made you set the service up? move into one of our other houses or to I went away myself to get clean and alternative accommodation. We now wanted to go back to Birmingham have an administrator, a service man- where I lived, but there was nothing in ager, a full time support worker and ten place for people who had completed volunteers. The volunteers all receive treatment or rehab when going back to training and accreditation to enable the area where they lived, most people them to move into employment. would fall back into the same pattern of using, as there was no support. I recog- Is it just for the Birmingham area or can nised this gap and saw how different is anyone access the service? was in other areas. Whilst in W-SM I com- No, anyone can access the service as pleted courses on counselling and vol- long as they meet the 30 day clean unteered at a rehab. I eventually de- criteria, obviously anyone who wants to cided to go home and set something up stay in one of our houses, needs to be to support people who had managed to motivated and willing to contribute get clean to enable them to maintain positively whilst accessing the service. their recovery and re-integrate back into the community, with adequate living What are the criteria to stay at skills., I set up the first house and linked in changes? with a local treatment centre, I worked At all of our houses accept the Solihull with the treatment centre and they re- project and ‘New Hope House’ in Bir- ferred people who had completed their mingham, we require people to have treatment. The idea was to help people been free from illicit and prescription who were ready to regain all the skills drugs for 30 days, we ask that people necessary to live independently. are motivated and willing to interact 28with our programme. www.changes.uk.com