Drugs
Information, referral pathways and resources for drugs services.
- Introduction
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Drug misuse is the fifth ranked cause of disability and death among 15-49 year olds in Hampshire. New patterns of drug use have emerged in the last decade, with the increased use of cocaine, benzodiazepines, ketamine, misuse of medication and the emerging threat of synthetic opioids being particular areas of concern.
Drug dealing also fuels violence, with about half of all homicides linked to gangs involved in the distribution and sale of drugs.
- Services commissioned by Public Health
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Inclusion Recovery Hampshire is a confidential, free and easy-to-access service for anyone aged 25 and over living in Hampshire affected by their own or someone else’s use of drugs and alcohol. You can access confidential support via the helpline on 0300 124 0103.
Hampshire 24/7 is a specialist drug and alcohol treatment service for young people aged under 25 years old and their families. Call 0800 599 9591 for support.
Confidential support and advice for parents, families and friends of those who use drugs and alcohol is available from Parent Support Link (PSL). You can also call: 023 8039 9764
Other local and national support options are also available.
- Referral pathways
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Practitioners (with consent) can make a referral to community drug and alcohol treatment services in Hampshire by completing the online referral forms at Inclusion Recovery Hampshire or Hampshire 24/7. Individuals can also self-refer for support.
- Training and resources
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Misuse of illicit drugs and medicines: applying All Our Health provides an overview of drug-related harm and the key actions professionals can take.
FRANK provides honest information about drugs, as well as an advice line and web chat.
DrugWise contains evidence-based information on drugs, alcohol and tobacco, including factsheets about different drugs and their effects.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that health and social care professionals routinely assess whether people in at-risk groups are vulnerable to problematic drug use:
- Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Tool – Lite (ASSIST-Lite) is proven to be effective in identifying risky illicit drug use and can help in supporting interventions to help the individual reduce this risk
- the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT) is a validated self-reported screening tool for non-alcohol drug use and drug-related problems
- Strategies, policies and partnerships
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Further guidance is available:
- Hampshire Strategic Drug and Alcohol Partnership
- NICE Guideline: drug misuse prevention
- Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management
- NICE Guideline: Drug misuse in over 16s: psychosocial interventions
- NICE Guideline: Needle and syringe programmes
- NEPTUNE , guidance to improve clinical practice in the management of harms resulting from the use of club drugs and new psychoactive substances