Pioneering partnership delivering drug harm prevention across Redcar and Cleveland
20 December 2023
3,800 people across Redcar and Cleveland have received crucial awareness training this year alongside the distribution of over 300 life-saving naloxone kits in an effort to prevent harm and drug-related deaths.
According to recent ONS data, there were 4,907 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales in 2022; this is the highest number since records began in 1993 and 1.0% higher than in 2021. The North East has double the death rate of some areas.
To support harm prevention, since 1 January 2023 drug and alcohol charity WithYou (a member of the THRIVE partnership) has delivered tailored training to over 1,500 local primary school children, nearly 2,000 secondary school students, residents in children's homes and college students. As well as delivering awareness to around 350 professionals including teachers, hospital staff, social care staff and foster carers.
The training is tailored to be age-appropriate and can include sessions on the risks of different drugs including cannabis, cocaine and ketamine, as well as the effects of alcohol or specific presentations on the risks of child exploitation and county lines.
Between January and November 2023 staff at WithYou in Redcar and Cleveland also issued over 300 naloxone and nyxoid kits to clients and professionals; these are life-saving kits with medication that reverses the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine, methadone and nitazenes.
WithYou is a member of the THRIVE partnership which is a pioneering collaboration which includes educational programme provider, Intuitive Thinking Skills and charity, Harbour which supports families and individuals affected by domestic abuse.
Tracey*, a client of the THRIVE partnership and previous resident of Harbour said:
“I was getting £2,200 a month from my salary. and I spent £1,800 of that on cocaine every month. I couldn't afford the house, the bills. It got to the point when cocaine was the only thing I wanted to live on. I didn’t even buy food. If it wasn’t for THRIVE, I’d probably be dead.”
Stacey Skilton, Head of Service Delivery for WithYou in Redcar and Cleveland (THRIVE), said:
“National data released by ONS shows that drug deaths have increased overall across England. Thankfully, whilst we have seen a decrease across Redcar and Cleveland, we have seen a stark increase in referrals into our service. Each drug-related death is a tragedy and we are absolutely committed as an organisation to doing everything we can to help people create a positive future and reduce preventable deaths.
“As a society, we have to become more empathetic and remove the stigma attached to drug use so that vulnerable people feel able to ask for help. And when people do ask for help, we need to ensure it is immediately and easily available.
“We know that with the right support, many of the people who died from drug use could still be alive today. The reasons behind this public health crisis are deep-rooted and complex, but these deaths are not inevitable - and we must not stand back and accept them.
“Alongside drug and alcohol awareness training and naloxone distribution to create a foundation of prevention, our partners offer advice and support on domestic abuse and healthy relationships, respectful friendships and emotional well being.”
If you or someone you know needs support from THRIVE in Redcar and Cleveland, email thrive.withyou@nhs.net call 0300 3033 781. A free and confidential online Webchat for drugs, alcohol or mental health is also available from the WithYou website: www.wearewithyou.org.uk