No, this doesn’t mean free drugs and alcohol for anyone who turns up, but rather free advice for anyone worried about the effects of drug or alcohol overuse.
It’s all part of National Tackling Drugs Week and the team from the Island Drug and Alcohol Service (IDAS) will be opening their doors the public
Whilst not dismissing the importance of the service, it is encouraging to hear today that according to health information firm CHKS, the Isle of Wight has the lowest number of patients whose conditions are connected to excessive consumption of alcohol. Apparently based on a survey of 152 primary care trusts, the national average for alcohol-related admissions was 103 cases per 10,000 people. On the Isle of Wight it was 47.
In relation to the open day, Liz O’Neill, a Care Co-ordinator from IDAS said: “We would like to encourage as many people as possible to come along on Wednesday and meet the team and find out more about what we do at IDAS and hopefully we can dispell some myths about drug users and drug use.”
The IDAS team includes counsellors, substance misuse workers, and nurses who work together to provide a range of treatments, information and advice to individuals with drug or alcohol dependencies and their families. The service offers assessments and treatment to each individual’s specific needs. This can include substitute prescribing, talking therapies, ear acupuncture and referral on to other services.
Liz O’Neill continued: “We work with service users to reduce the harmful effects associated with drug and alcohol use and help them to improve their physical and psychological health and social functioning. Not only can this help to reduce crime associated with such dependencies, but also benefits the individual, their families and the Island community”.
The IDAS have helped over 450 people on the Island in the last year.
If you want to find out more just pop along today. It takes place between 10.00am – 4.00pm.
IDAS team can be found at 102 Carisbrooke Road, Newport.
