Substance Misuse

Primary Care Substance Misuse Service

This service provides community prescribing to people over 18 years of age within the county of Gloucestershire, who require community prescribing for opiate dependence. The service is provided by GPs with Special training in addiction, addiction nurses and drug workers from GDAS ( Gloucestershire Drugs and Alcohol Service). The team provide initial treatment and prescribing for opiate users and will continue to manage the less complex cases. Patients with complex needs are referred through to the locality specialist community teams. Treatment includes: substitute prescribing of drugs such as Methadone/Subutex. Viral testing and advice for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and psycho-social support/interventions and assist patients in addressing their housing needs.

Based at 1 Spa Road, Gloucester, GL1 1UY. Tel: 01452 545906

CSSMS Community Teams

The countywide specialist substance misuse service (CSSMS) has 3 community teams who provide treatment for patients with alcohol and or drug problems who live in Gloucestershire. The teams comprise Consultant Addiction Psychiatrists, Team leaders, Nurses, social workers, administrative staff and support workers. The treatment provided is more intensive than that provided in the primary care team and is aimed at helping those patients whose addiction problems are complicated by such issues as pregnancy, childcare, co-morbid mental illness, homelessness, addiction or misuse of more than one substance or other high risk using behaviours or illnesses. The service provides high-quality medical and psycho-social assessment. All patients have a Care Co-coordinator who works with patients to deliver an individually tailored care plan to meet their needs. Treatment available includes: substitute prescribing, daily supervised consumption of medication, assessment and referral to specialist inpatient ward, Viral testing and Hepatitis B vaccination programme, Community alcohol detoxification, community opiate detoxification, assessment and referral for residential rehabilitation. The team work and liaise with specialist Addiction Midwives and provide support and training to the general hospitals. The Community teams have recently trained in the Community Reinforcement Approach a therapy that is very effective in the addiction field. The service works closely with the non-statutory agencies within the county and has strong associations with social services, inpatient services, and other community based treatment providers both in Primary and Secondary Care.

Cheltenham, Tewkesbury & North Cotswolds team based at The Pavilion, Lexham Lodge, Copt Elm Road, Cheltenham, GL53 8AG. Tel: 01242 274839.

West Gloucestershire team based at 44 London Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NZ. Tel: 01452 891260.

Stroud and Berkeley Vale team based at Salmon Springs, Stroud, post is sent c/o Weavers Croft. Tel: 01453 769260

Criminal Justice Drugs Service (CJDT)

This service provides specialist assessment, care coordination and treatment packages for clients sentenced to a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement . Treatment is similar to that provided by the CSSMS community teams but work is more intensive and incorporates liaison between the team and staff in the criminal justice system. The service also provides care coordination, substitute Prescribing and treatment for patients referred for treatment from custody or police cells.

Based at 1 Spa Road, Gloucester, GL1 1UY. Tel: 01452 545779

Inpatient Service, Sezincote Ward Charlton Lane Centre

This ward provides treatment and care of CSSMS patients with drug and/or alcohol problems who wish to detoxify, or need to stabilise, in a safe and comfortable environment and find this difficult to achieve safely in the community. It is one of the few specialist addiction inpatient units in the country and the partnership trust was recently successful in applying for a capital grant from the National Treatment Agency. The quality of accommodation provided will be enhanced by this grant and it is hoped that by making beds available to neighbouring Trusts the ward will increase the multidisciplinary input and quality to the service users.

Tel: 01242 272212

Young People’s Substance Misuse Service (YPSMS)

A community-based countywide service for young people up to the age of 18 yrs who have problems with drugs and/or alcohol. It aims to provide high quality medical and psycho-social interventions individually tailored to meet the needs of the young person and their family. All patients have a Care Co-ordinator. The service comprises Specialist Nurses and GINI workers (employed by the Council) and some medical works closely with the non-statutory agencies within the county and has strong associations with social services and other community-based treatment providers both in Primary and Secondary Care, specifically CAMHS and Early Intervention.

Based at 40b London Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NU. Tel: 01452 503186.