Under 18s

About Drugaid

Drugaid is a registered charity which has been delivering drug and alcohol services in South Wales since 1968. Our purpose is to help individuals and communities affected by drugs and alcohol by delivering a range of therapeutic and information services.

Our services are geared towards helping people to cut down or stop their substance use. We have a special service designed to help and support young people and those working with them. We work within a harm-reduction, client-centred framework, based on the cycle of change model of intervention.

What exactly is the Young Persons Service?

It includes:

• One-to-one work with young people who
  • are thinking about drug/alcohol use
  • are experimenting with drugs/alcohol
  • are using drugs/alcohol on a recreational/ occasional/ regular basis
  • are experiencing drug/alcohol-related problems
  • would like unbiased information relating to drugs/alcohol

Who are we there for?

Young People

• Our service is open to any young person living in the Caerphilly County Borough, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent areas
• They may self-refer or be referred by a third party (i.e., GP etc.)

Agencies

We offer technical input to the following agencies:

• Education Services/ Establishments
• Social/Welfare Services
• Criminal Justice Services
• Health Services
• Youth Services
• Training/Employment Services
• Community/Voluntary Sector

This is not an exhaustive list.

What does the service provide?

For Young People

We have specialised Young Persons Project Workers who are experienced in working with young people and who are able to offer the following:

• Assessment of their needs and aspirations
• Factual information relating to drugs/alcohol
• Support
• Therapeutic intervention (using the 'Cycle of change' model)
• Work with relatives/ carers, where appropriate
• Work with other agencies/ individuals, where appropriate
• Referral to other services/agencies, where appropriate
• Education inputs (schools/colleges)
• Interactive education (youth settings, youth/community events etc.)

For Agencies

• Joint work in respect of individual young people
• Talks/ structured awareness-raising sessions
• WOCN Accredited Training (contact Training Manager for details)
• Telephone/ face-to face enquiry service
• Consultancy/ advice

How can this service be accessed?

This service aims to be flexible and responsive to the needs of young people. Services may therefore be delivered in:

• The office base
• The young person's home
• Other settings, e.g., youth centres/ family centres

Access/ referral to the service can be made:

• Via telephone
• In writing – letter/ referral form
• In person – by calling in to the office

The service is available between 9 and 5, Monday to Friday

Confidentiality?

This service is confidential, except where the following circumstances apply:

• If someone says they're going to hurt themselves or others
• If a court asks for information
• If someone admits to a serious crime

We will always try to talk to the young person about this beforehand, if it is going to happen.

For more information about this service, or to have an informal chat with a project worker, please use the following contact details: