28

Wolverhampton Drug Service Users Lifestyle MagazineWolverhampton Drug Service Users Lifestyle MagazineWolverhampton Drug Service Users Lifestyle Magazine

Issue 21 : Jan - Feb 2011

SUIT’s Christmas Meal ‘10SUIT’s Christmas Meal ‘10

SUIT Cheer On The WolvesSUIT Cheer On The Wolves

Directory of ServicesDirectory of Services

Free

2

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this work, no responsibility

for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result

of any statement in it, can be accepted by the editor or by Wolverhampton Voluntary

Sector Council Service User Involvement Team,

Welcome to Welcome to Welcome to

Welcome to issue 21 of Substance and the start of a New

Year, we hope you all had a happy Christmas and New

Year and are safe and well.

As usual we have a great mix of real life stories, poems

and the latest news. A big thank you to everyone who

has contributed to this issue and keep on sending us your

work this magazine wouldn't be here without it.

Many of you may know that we held a Christmas meal

back in December, it was a great success and we would

like to thank everyone for their help and the generosity of

the stores who donated to us. You can read more about

this on pages 8 and 9.

We welcome all your suggestions, ideas and work. If you

have anything you would like to send us you can find our

address on the opposite page. Once again thank you

and keep up the good work.

Substance Magazine Editorial Group.

This magazine is put together by Wolverhamp-

ton Service User Involvement Team who hold

weekly editorial group meetings to discuss its

content, printing etc. If you would like to be

part of the Team please call us on (01902)

328983 or text your details to 88010 starting

your message with the word SUIT.

Local Service Directory

Full Address: Wolverhampton PCT Tel No: (01902) 444030

Addiction Services

Horizon House

Pitt Street

Wolverhampton

WV3 0NF

A l c oh o l an d Dru g D rop In -

Monday to Thursday -: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Service User Involvement Team

S U I T Full Address:

c/o WVSC

16 Temple Street

Wolverhampton

WV2 4AN

Tel No -:

01902 328983 or

w w w . s u i t e a m . c o m

Helping to improve

drug treatment and lives

Subs– see young

people across

the city at various

community

venues.

Telephone

Number:

01902 572041

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday - 9am - 6pm

Friday - 9am - 5pm

Offers; Group Work, Key Work, Harm

Reduction, Substitute Prescribing,

Acupuncture, Family Therapy,

General Drug Information.

Progress 2

Work

Contact Dani Folan on

(07814 414560) or ask your key

worker or Jobcentre Advisor to

be referred.

Local Service Directory

LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE GOOD

SHEPHERD

The Methodist Cen-

tre. 24 School Street,

Wolverhampton

Morning Service

10.30 – 11.30 a.m.

Monday & Thursday: Dry Food,

Gents Clothes, Male Showers

Friday: Gents Clothes, Male

Shower

Afternoon Service: 2 – 3.30 pm.

Daily: Service of Food Packages

If you need any advice or guidance on Homelessness

issues feel free to

contact Wolver-

hampton City

Council on the

details below -:

Homeless Services

Unit

Social Services

Wolverhampton City

Council

Civic Centre

St. Peter's Square

Wolverhampton

The Lords

Soup Kitchen Full Meals

served

between

7 & 9pm - :

Sun and Wed.

For anyone in

need.

All Welcome

● Provide advice & guidance

● Activities like life skills, literacy etc

● Signposting

● Benefits & Tenancy advice

St. GeorgesSt. GeorgesSt. Georges Tel -:

(01902) 421904

St Marks Rd

Chapel Ash

W’ton

WV3 09H Hub

Opening Hrs

09:15 -17:00

3

What’s inside this edition. Contents Page

The latest news Pg 4-5

The new drugs strategy Pg 6-7

SUIT‘s Christmas meal Pg 8-9

Poem– My Dad Pg 10

New Year wordsearch Pg 11

There is always hope Pg 12-13

SUIT Women's group Pg 14

A page for you Pg 15-16

Recipe page Pg 17

A tribute to Wayne Starr Pg 18-19

Poem—What‘s Life Pg 20 Your Questions Pg 21

Poem - The End Is Near Pg 22

SUIT cheer on the Wolves Pg 23

Local NA meetings Pg 24

Needle exchange pharmacies Pg 25

Local service Directory Pg 26-27

DON‘T FORGET

Anyone can contribute an article, poem, story, question etc. Send your stuff FREE to:

SUIT, c/o WVSC, FREEPOST MID14051, Wolverhampton, WV2 4BR.

4

News - News - News – News - News - News - News - News

Jobcentre Staff to Hand out Food Vouchers.

The government will hand out food vouchers to people on benefits as

part of a wider campaign to allow charities to step in when the state

fails to deliver, it emerged today.

Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, has signalled that

from next month Jobcentre Plus staff will be able to distribute vouchers

for food packages containing enough donated items to feed a family

for three days.

The food is meant for "emergencies" – when benefits payments are

delayed, or debt means children go hungry. The scheme limits each

family to three sets of vouchers a year. It will be operated from 79 food

banks across the country run by the Trussell Trust, a Christian charity.

The charity says it will help 60,000 people this year, and aims to launch

200 UK food banks by 2013, feeding more than 140,000. The Trussell Trust

director, Chris Mould, said the Labour government had stopped staff

from issuing vouchers during the recession in 2008 because it worried

about a food bank "postcode lottery".

Mould said he was worried about warnings, most recently from the

Institute for Fiscal Studies, that inflation and reforms could see nearly a

million more people in poverty. He said: "We do have concerns that the

government reforms will mean we will have to deal with more cases as

cuts hit."

The initiative is also politically controversial, allowing critics to claim

charities are filling a vacuum left by the government.

The Trussell Trust depends on frontline professionals, such as health visi-

tors, social workers and doctors, to give the vouchers to people they

encounter who do not have enough money to feed themselves.

"We don't want to encourage a dependency and also recognise that

poor families need the help of a care professional who can work out a

plan for them," said Mould.

The Department for Work and Pensions said the government

"recognised the merit of having additional targeted support in place,

such as food banks, which play an important role in local communities.

Jobcentre Plus is already in discussion with the Trussell Trust and they

have agreed to work together in the New Year." Source: www.guardian.co.uk

25

A List of Pharmacies In Wolverhampton who Offer Needle Exchange

A Brickley Ltd, 88 Griffiths Drive, WV11 2JW

All Saints Pharmacy, 91-93 All Saints Road, WV2 1DR

Alpharm Ltd, 468 Stafford Road, WV10 6AP

Anderson Chemist, 311 Dudley Road, WV2 3JE

Boots Pharmacy, 40-41 Dudley Street, WV1 3ER

Boots Pharmacy, 100 Church Street, Bilston, WV14 0BJ

Brooklands Pharmacy, 48 Brooklands Parade, WV1 2NE

Brutons Pharmacy, 1 Mervyn Place, Bilston, WV14 8DD

Co-op Pharmacy, Avion Centre, 6 Bargate Drive, WV6 0QW

Co-op Pharmacy, 425 Dudley Road, WV2 3AH

Co-op Pharmacy, 8 Showell Circus, WV10 9BA

Co-op, Pendeford Health Centre, Whitburn Close, WV9 5NJ

Essington Pharmacy, 129 Long Knowle Lane, WV11 1JG

HN Pharmacy, 124 Cannock Road, WV10 8PW

Lloyds Pharmacy, 323/325 Penn Road, WV4 5QF

Lloyds Pharmacy, 34/35 Thornley Street, WV1 1JP

Lloyds Pharmacy, 18-20 The Broadway, WV10 8EB

Lloyds Pharmacy, 45 Church Street, WV14 0AX

Lloyds Pharmacy, Lower Street, WV6 9NS

Lloyds Pharmacy, 181 Wednesfield Road, WV10 0EN

Lloyds Pharmacy, 18 High Street, Wednesfield, WV11 1SZ

Meerapharm, 331 Bushbury Lane, WV10 9UJ

Murrays Healthcare, 128 Childs Avenue, Coseley, WV14 9XB

Phoenix Pharmacy, Phoenix Health Centre, Parkfield Road, WV4 6ED

Staveley Chemist, 212 Staveley Road, WV1 4RH

Supercare Pharmacy, 135 Dudley Road, WV2 3HD

Superdrug Pharmacy, 65/67 Mander Square, WV1 3NN

Tettenhall Wood Pharmacy, 12 School Road, WV6 8EN

All equipment is provided for free

Look out

for this sign

on the shop

front to find

out if they

provide the

service

24

W o l v e r h a m p t o n ►Monday 7:30 pm Methodist Church, Darlington Street

►Friday 7:30 pm Methodist Church, Darlington Street

W e s t B r o m w i c h ►Wednesday 7:30 pm ‗One desire-freedom‘, Chapter House

Phoenix St

(upstairs in lounge ring bell for access).

W a l s a l l ►Thursday 7:30 pm ‗The war is over‘, St Matthew centre,

St Matthew close, Churchill. (Ring bell for

access).

S t o u r b r i d g e ►Monday 8:00 pm 54, Claycroft Place, Lye DY9 8BZ

►Tuesday 8:00 pm Gibbs House, Gibbs Rd, off Bald Lane, Lye.

►Wednesday 6:30 pm ‗The truth in Lye‘, The Warehouse,

Atlantic House,

Dudley Rd. (Building behind the Bronx).

- Open on request.

5

News - News - News – News - News - News - News - News

SUIT Receive Donation by a Wolves Legend

Steve Bull presented SUIT Manager (Sunny Dhadley) with

various gifts that were used at the Christmas meal (page 9-10), and

the others were passed onto the Womens Team at

Horizon House (and given to service users children).

Young People Turning Away From Class A‘s The number of under-18s accessing services fell by more than 500 in 2009-10

to 23,528, according to Substance misuse among young people: the data

for2009-10.

The number of under-18s entering treatment for primary heroin and crack

use more than halved over five years, with the use of cocaine as primary

drug falling by 43 per cent in the past two years, says the report. Problems

with cannabis and/or alcohol now account for 90 per cent of all cases of

young people receiving help, with the number accessing services for pri-

mary ecstasy use falling by 79 per cent in two years. More than twice as

many under-18s complete treatment successfully than five years ago, says

theNTA.

‘We had already identified a generational shift amongst young adults (18-

24) who are turning away from class A drugs,’ said chief executive Paul

Hayes. ‘Now we learn that the same thing is happening amongst teenagers,

too. Most young people turning to drug treatment for help have problems

associated with cannabis and alcohol. For those teenagers who seek help,

substance misuse is usually one of a range of problems causing difficulties in

their life which is why treatment services must work with partners in youth

services to offer a range of support.’ Source; DDN

6

Its Finally Here - The New 10 Year Drug Strategy

In late December 2010, the drug strategy for drugs was released by the government. This document outlines what the government are hoping to achieve, and how they want treatment services to support drug users.

This strategy focuses on the following headings -:

Current state of play ☺ Estimated no. of users ☺ Patterns in age & usage ☺ Alcohol ☺ Polysubstance use ☺ Mental health ☺ Young people ☺ Legal highs

Reducing demand The best possible start Education & information for all Early intervention (young people & families) Intensive support for young people Legislation, sentencing & diversion Offenders Restricting supply Law enforcement reforms Integrated enforcement Reducing supply in prisons Criminal businesses Legal highs

23

SUIT Cheer on the Wolves

This kind of story is becoming a regular type of

story that we cover at SUIT.

SUIT were donated 20 tickets by Birmingham Midshires to take service

users and their families along to support their local team Wolverhampton

Wanderers FC at the Molineux.

Luckily, the game that we

were allocated tickets for was the match against

Chelsea on Wednesday 5th January 2011.

To be brutally honest, none of us would have envisaged the result of the contest.

But just as addicts can be the underdogs in life, Wolves were the underdogs in this game and they showed a fighting spirit to win the game 1-0.

Testament that hard work and a bit of luck can lead to extraordinary results.

It was a brilliant day overall, and thanks to the generosity of the certain people, we all enjoyed an

experience that did not consist of a bag, or pipe or any other illicit substance and showed us all that

life can be the biggest buzz of all.

22

The End Is Near

The end of the year is here

A new year ever so near

Topping up credit on the mobile phone

Making sure I’m not seeking a loan

The snow is falling in due measure

For us to use at our leisure

Christmas a time of merry and joy

At the end of a season, not a toy

Government expenses cut and exposed

Benefits subtracted and not overdosed

Media packages at an all time high

Fitting into a society they know will buy

For you and I, a very cold time

Another time to get through, as the bells chime

Father Christmas delivering his gifts

Through the chimney he fall was swift

Merry Christmas is the message

To all of you and not the dosage.

Anonymous.

7

Cracking down on internet sales Follow the money & seize the assets Cutting agents & precursor chemicals Strengthened International partnerships Building RECOVERY in communities Systems locally led & owned Outcomes focus Whole systems approach Inspirational recovery orientated workforce Keeping children safe & rebuilding families Reintegration into communities Tackling housing needs Helping people find sustained employment Test approaches - money following success

This sounds like a lot, and it is, however all of the headings play a key role in ensuring that people suffering from substance misuse get the help and support that they need.

This means that as a user treatment, employment, housing and criminal justice systems should be geared towards helping people to recover from their addiction (or at least progress towards it).

It is an extensive document, that obviously goes into greater detail. If you are interested in having a look at it, then you can log onto -:

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/drugs/drug-strategy/drug-strategy-2010

8

We held a Christmas meal at the All

Nations Christian Centre on Thursday 16th

December 2010.

We prepared & cooked a 3 course meal by

hand ourselves,

and invited as many

service users to

attend as possible.

We are pleased to announce that the event was a great

success, with over 100 people attending and enjoying the

whole experience.

Unfortunately, we did run out of turkey, but this will prepare

us for next year, as the turnout was way beyond what we

expected. So thanks to everyone who came !

21

Your questions answered

Q. I would like to start volunteering

but have a child aged 3, is there any

funding available for a nursery

place?

Anon.

A. All children regardless of status:

- can start nursery the term after their

3rd Birthday

- are entitled to 15 hours in a nursery

for FREE

For more information or to find your

local nursery please contact:-

Wolverhampton Family Information

Service (WFIS)

10 King Street, Wolverhampton, WV1

1ST tel: 01902 574242.

Got a Question?

Need Answers?

Don‘t know where to

turn?

Send your questions to SUIT and we

will get the answers you deserve.

Simply post your question to -:

Substance Magazine

SUIT c/o WVSC

Freepost 14051

Wolverhampton

WV2 4BR

20

What‘s Life

Need to live it like a rock and roll star

But just think what you are doing

Like me, I tried it, and will end up wrecked

So I am trying to come back

But lots goes through your mind

And makes me feel bad

I feel like hurting myself sometimes

But you have to cope the best you can

Just think what you are doing

God Bless

By Wayne Starr

9

We must thank all the SUIT volunteers who worked so hard in

ensuring that everything went well.

And also thank the following companies for donating gifts for

the day -:

10

My Dad My dad was a good dad, So I’ve been told

Tall, dark and handsome, A sight to behold

My dad was a good dad, So I’ve been told A very good dad, Till the drugs got a hold

He died from an overdose, So I’ve been told

I don't remember, I was only 3 years old

By Anon.

19

the truth I wouldn’t have known what to look for. However when

Wayne’s brother Chrissie died in 1998, I noticed he became more

withdrawn and started on a downward spiral that would eventually

end up with his untimely death at the age of 34. I saw less and less

of Wayne as the years passed, I noticed he was losing a lot of

weight, when id ask, he’d just say he was ok, and for me not to

worry. Wayne did enter rehab as he knew that the drugs were ruin-

ing his lifestyle. He’d be clean for a while, and be looking really

healthy, but more often than not he would relapse back onto her-

oin. A lot of people assume people with drug and alcohol addic-

tion, are scumbags, who rob and steal off anyone just to get a fix,

but that’s not always true, my sons never stole off me, they always

try to make sure I had enough. They were normal lads who sadly

got bitten by the heroin bug. My youngest son Matthew passed

away from a drug overdose in 2008, he was only 28.Despite what’s

been said about the Avondale hotel where Wayne died, I know

that they done all they could for my son whilst he lived there, the

same goes for Horizon house and SUIT, where he would attend for

help with his addiction.

I still feel like Wayne is still around and it saddens me to think of what

he went through, but at the same time I feel better now knowing

where he is and is not suffering anymore. If I had a message for any-

one who is addicted to drink or drugs, it would be please think

about what its doing to yourself and your family, I only have one

child left now and that’s what keeps me going, otherwise I don’t

know what id do.

18

A Tribute to Starry by a SUIT Volunteer

As you may have read, in past issues of Substance we’ve had

stories from addicts and ex addicts. In this issue, I interviewed the

mother of an addict, who sadly passed away in October. I have

interviewed a couple of people for Substance, and this interview

was by far the most difficult, as it was very emotional, for both Mrs

Star and myself. I really felt this courageous woman’s pain as she

explained what it was like to lose not one, but three sons, two to

drugs, and one son who were murdered. No one could explain

what this woman has been through, and the fact she agreed to

this interview speaks volumes about the woman she is. This is Mrs

Star’s story in her own words.

There’s been a lot been said about my son Wayne over the years,

some good some not so good, id like to tell you about the real

Wayne, the one I knew and loved, as did a lot of people who

knew him.

Wayne was one of four children, two brothers and one sister; he

came from a normal household, and never went without. As a

child, he and the rest of my children witnessed me being physi-

cally and mentally abused, but this stopped when my boys were

old enough to stand up to their Dad. He was a normal child who

seemed to be in his element around the younger kids, and ex-

celled in Art while at school, he always seemed to be doodling or

sketching something. He had a great sense of humour and would

always have time for those less unfortunate than himself.

All in all he had a lot going for him, when he left Morton School, he

took a job with Mc Alpines working on the Wolves stadium which

he loved, earning his own money, and he took pride in himself and

his appearance.

I knew Wayne was smoking cannabis at around 14, I wasn’t happy

but thought it was something he would grow out of, like most lads

of that age he would have a drink on weekends, as it didn’t affect

his work I didn’t worry too much.

I didn’t know if he was experimenting with hard drugs then, to tell

11

N Z O S A L E S J

V E D I K O G H A

D N W A F V J O N

B D O Y R E K L U

S L I F E K T I A

U T I V S A F D R

X N A G H P R A Y

W C V R H B K Y A

N D I E T T F P J

New Year Word Search

New Year

Fresh

January

Sales

Diet

Love

Holiday

End

Start

Life

Dark

Light

12

― T h e r e i s a l w a y s h o p e ‖ By…………..

I first started taking drugs when I was fifteen; drinking and smoking

cannabis, mainly out of curiosity. Over the next couple of years I

experimented with acid, magic mushrooms and speed.

I met my first partner when I was seventeen and quickly moved in with

her. Over the next ten years I continued to drink and smoke heavily,

spending most of my time in the pub selling weed. Though clothed and

fed I wasn’t a very good father to my two children, or a good partner.

In my mid-twenties I first tried heroin and I felt I’d discovered the drug for

me. I also used crack, but always made sure that there was a bag of

heroin there for me. I continued to sell weed to fund my class A use. My

customers gradually drifted away, it finally reached the stage where I

would sell a bag of weed and score a bag of heroin.

My first shock came when I was remanded in custody for burglary. I

ended up in Winson green prison. After twelve years of being stoned

each day it was quite a shock to suddenly be sober. Endless sleepless

nights watching it grow dark and slowly get light again. Finally I was

transferred to Blakenhurst prison, once there I enrolled with the educa-

tion department and fell back on my talent of drawing portraits for

phone cards. This gave me the means to score draw. I could get stoned

again.

After six months on remand i was released from court with time served.

My partner was there but it was clear she didn’t want me back home. I

moved back into my mom and dads, though free from the heroin i

continued to smoke weed. I managed to get myself a job. Then i got

news that my old using partner was out of jail, i went straight to where

he was staying and after a brief hello i asked him to go and score heroin

for me.

I was still staying at home and using when my mum was taken ill with

secondary cancer, she went downhill quickly and passed away in the

hospital before reaching Compton Hospice. After travelling back home

my first move was to go and find her Morphine tablets.

17

Recipe

Chicken & chorizo stew

Ingredients

100g of skinless chicken

breasts, diced

30g of chorizo (unsliced),

sliced

1/3 small red onion, sliced

1/2 small tin of chopped

tomatoes

1/2 tin of chickpeas, drained

1x new potato (70g)

1 garlic clove, finely

chopped

200ml vegetable stock

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tsp tomato puree Method

Serves: One

Difficulty: Easy

Cost: £1.84 per serving

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onion and garlic for 2-3

minutes or until the onion is soft. Add the chicken and cook for 5

minutes or until slightly browned.

2. Add the chorizo and cook for about a minute. Stir in the chick-

peas, potato, tomato, tomato puree and stock and bring to the

boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, topping up

with a little extra stock if required. Season to taste with salt and

pepper and serve immediately.

16

A Page For You!

This page has been left blank so you can send us

your stories, poems or anything else you would

like to see in the magazine, simply tear the

page out and send it to our freepost

address printed on the opposite side of the

page. (If you don’t want your name with it, you don't have to)

13

I was still drinking (mostly whisky) and scoring daily. I had lost my

Grandmother whilst on remand, split with my partner and had now

lost my mum. I was earning a good wage but had reached the stage

where there was none of my wages left at the end of the week after

buying my drink and heroin. My heroin intake was increasing daily but

i still didn’t consider my addict. I was turning up to work drunk and dis-

appearing at dinnertime to score and they finally had enough of me

and let me go.

I didn’t know what to do, how to continue using as much as i had

been and turned to steling from my dad. Firstly i found his bank card

with his pin number and took the account to the overdraft limit. I then

forged four cheques, the bank finally got intouch with him, the police

were called and i was kicked out.

Luckily when bailed i found a place in the Good Shepherd hostel. At

least i had a bed but i was surrounded by other drug users. It was all

around me, all i had to do was find the money to score. I started to go

out shoplifting. At first it went reasonably well for me as my face

wasn’t known. As i was going out shoplifting every day i could only

get away with it for so long. At first i would be arrested and bailed,

appear in court, get fined and be off shoplifting the next day.

Through the staff at the Good Shepherd i got my first flat. Though not

prepared or equipped to do so i moved in. My offending continued, i

was beginning to be refused bail. On a couple of occasions i gave

false details in the police station, getting bail under a false name. That

caught up with me and i was charged with perverting the course of

justice and was sentenced to six months in prison. That meant i lost my

flat along with all my belongings once released. I stayed with who-

ever would put me up. I finally got a rundown bedsit through a friend.

After years of denial i went and registered myself as an addict, get-

ting on to a Methadone script while continuing to use. I would en-

gage with councillors as little as possible doing the least required to

get my medication. No matter what was going on, everything was

fine. In and out as quickly as possible.

To be continued in the next issue of Substance...........

13

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