Fife’s Drug and Alcohol Project Limited (DAPL) has been granted funding from the Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) to develop its young person service in west Fife.
The development means there will be a Fife-wide service from the project providing therapeutic support to young people and their families who are affected by substance misuse for the next year.
In an update to councillors, project manager Robert Grant explained that the organisation, which started off with just a couple of staff in Levenmouth, has also developed strong working links with schools to provide a therapeutic service to young people identified as having issues.
Research is being carried out along with this work to highlight the effectiveness of counselling young people.
The ADP also supported the organisation’s triage system, which will mean extra, immediate access to assessment for those affected by drugs or alcohol.
Mr Grant explained that DAPL is now in its sixth month working with its partners FIRST and NHS Addiction Services to provide support to those affected by alcohol.
The partnership, supported by Scottish Government funding, via the ADP, is on target for the amount of people accessing support and again this has seen DAPL providing alcohol counselling for adults throughout the whole of Fife.
“This innovative partnership is creating a more flexible and efficient use of both statutory and voluntary services therefore maximising public funds to their best advantage,” said Mr Grant.
Another initiative has seen DAPL and other community-based organisations working with Auchmuty Tenants Association to provide targeted support to community members accessing the community flat.
It has devised a range of interventions including immediate triage, complimentary therapy, blood-borne virus support and counselling.
The range of interventions will be adapted to the needs of the community members and, said Mr Grant, “This is a true piece of community activism at work with the community members leading and including services such as DAPL.”
Adult service workers have further developed the acudetox service in Fife, an intervention that is done by use of needles in five points of the ear and is a development of acupuncture.
This has proved effective in the management of drug and alcohol symptoms and the reduction of stress in psychostimulant and alcohol users.
DAPL have seconded an employee to work with Mainliners, the national organisation working with people affected by blood-borne virus, has developed Hepatitis C support groups and is working with a group in Leven designing leaflets through funding from the Schering Plough pharmacy company.
Mr Grant said, “DAPL are seeing over 300 clients per week and we are working closely with as many partners as possible to ensure these clients get access to the most appropriate all round care and support to enhance their recovery process.
“We look forward to continuing the effective work and interventions we are providing in Fife and working with the ADP and other partners to fulfil local and national strategy requirements, whilst remaining as a conduit for local people to access and influence service delivery.”
DAPL is holding its annual meeting on September 16 at 6.30pm in the Buckhaven Theatre, Lawrence Street, Buckhaven, when Professor Mick Cooper from Strathclyde University will give a talk on the value of therapeutic support for substance users.