Help with drug or alcohol misuse

How to make a referral for treatment
Salford Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT)
Services
Useful drug or alcohol misuse links

"Realising you have a problem is the first step to getting better, but it is often the hardest one to take."

A good place to start is to visit your GP. Your GP can discuss your concerns with you, assess the nature of your problems and help you choose the most appropriate treatment. Your GP might offer to treat you or might refer you to your local specialist drug and alcohol service.

Many drug treatment services accept self-referrals so, if you are not comfortable talking to your GP, you might be able to approach your local drug treatment service directly.

If your body has become dependent on alcohol, stopping drinking overnight can be life-threatening, so get advice about cutting down gradually.

Treatment is given to those who most need it first. In addition, specialist social workers work with people vulnerable to drugs misuse, like people who are homeless.

Ask about free local support groups, day-centre counselling and one-to-one counselling.

How to make a referral for treatment

Adult service referrals

Salford Drug and Alcohol Service offers specialist drug and alcohol advice, support and treatment to adults aged over 18 who are experiencing problems with their drug and alcohol use. The service is free and confidential and available to any adult Salford resident or adults registered with a Salford GP.

Salford Drug and Alcohol Service accept referrals by any route including self or any other party (eg GP, other agency, parent or concerned other as long as potential service user is willing to enter the service). This is usually by telephone.

For drug services covering Irlam, Cadishead to Eccles and Weaste, Seedley, Kersal and Charlestown, Langworthy, Pendleton, Ordsall and Broughton - telephone 0161 787 7343
For drug services covering Little Hulton, Walkden, Worsley, Boothstown, Swinton and Pendlebury - telephone 0161 703 8873
For alcohol services citywide - telephone 0161 745 7227

Aspire

Aspire is a new service for recovering drug and alcohol users who are serious about changing their lives. The ethos of the service is to improve individual's motivation to change and to enable recovery through a range of psychological and social interventions. It offers a programme of group work and activities, which are designed to support people in making and sustaining changes.

These could be to:

abstain from drugs and/or alcohol
learn new skills
identify barriers to over coming addiction and working on a personal plan to address these
improve confidence, self-esteem and well being to support change
go to college or get help finding a job or doing voluntary work
avoid relapse
assist clients to gain the necessary to skills to rebuild family and social relationships damaged by drug or alcohol use
structuring time

Referrals to Aspire can be made by telephone on 0161 745 9566.

Young people's service referrals

The Substance Misuse Advice and Referral Team (SMART) offer specialist drug and alcohol advice, support and treatment to young people aged 21 and under who are experiencing problems with their drug and alcohol use. The service is free and confidential and a specialist parents/carers service is also available.

Young people can self refer to the service by either phoning or presenting at the service during working hours. People working with young people can also refer young people to the service and we aim to make contact with young people within five working days.

Consent from the young person is required if they are being referred. As much information as possible is taken at the referral stage particularly from other professionals; if the young person is self referring this would be done sensitively over the phone.

Working hours are 9.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday.

SMART
Salford Opportunities Centre
2 Paddington Close
Pendleton
Salford
M6 5PL

Telephone: 0161 743 0167

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Salford Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT)

Salford DAAT commissions a range of drug and alcohol services for people of all ages. Most our services are available to anyone who is resident in Salford or registered with a Salford GP.

Young people's services are available to young people up to the age of 21 and to those who support them. In addition to treatment services the DAAT also commissions diversionary activities, support for schools and works with local partners to reduce harm caused to young people by drugs and alcohol.

Adult treatment services are available to those over the age of 18 and are provided in a range of settings across the city, including drug and alcohol specific services, GP practices, hospitals, and criminal justice settings.

The DAAT work with a range of agencies to provide drug and alcohol related community support to reduce the impact of drugs and alcohol on the community. The team can be contacted here:

Salford DAAT
Environment and Community Safety Directorate
2nd Floor
Turnpike House
631 Eccles New Road
Salford
M50 1SW

Telephone: 0161 603 4171
Email: Nicola.tandy@salford.gov.uk

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