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| Detoxification Service |
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| Wirral
Drug Service has been concerned for a number of years
that appropriate and relevant services should be offered
to clients who wish to detox from heroin, their prescribed
medication or a combination of both. The 'traditional'
hospital detox seemed to beready
for an overhaul; many clients felt the regime unsuitable
and 'inhospitable';
being seen as a patient in a hospital was probablythe
single most given reason for failing a detox.
Drawing on our own
experience and
ideas, the
existing
differing
detox
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systems
from around the U.K., making
full use of existing
local resources, a detox
service
was set up. This has developed over the last five years into
a successful and established part of this unit’s facilities.
Recently the team has moved to their own dedicated building
within the hospital grounds. Called ‘The
Port
House’, clients can now access the full range
of treatment and after care options offered
by the service. |
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| Acupuncture and a range of alternative
therapies are provided from The Port House. Electro Stimulation
Therapy, Reiki, detox tea, relaxation tapes, all can be accessed
from the unit. |
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Between
July 96 and March 2000, 553 clients started a detoxification
course. 352 completed the course, 74 are still drug free.
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The community detox service aims
to offer those individuals wishing to make the necessary
changes in their lifestyle a wide variety of options
for detoxification combined with a high level
of support. Clients may detoxify from their choice
of opiate, whether it be prescribed or not, provided
they are stable in their drug use. However, should
the client be chaotic, a brief period of stabilisation
can be arranged prior to detoxification.
Clients wishing to detox in the
community can choose from the following options:
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- Britlofex
reduction course. (Lofexidine Hydrochloride) Subutex
reduction course.
- Rapid
methadone reduction.
- Fixed
volume reduction.
- Dihydrocodeine
reduction.(if already prescribed) For those clients
who, for whatever reason, are unable to detoxify
in the community, Phoenix House, a local residential
facility can be accessed for a negotiated period
of time.
- Clients
must be stable in their drug use and will detoxify
using methadone or Britlofex.
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| Clients
attempting to detoxify from stimulants may receive support
in the form of regular contact and alternative therapies.
i.e. acupuncture. Some clients who still find themselves
vulnerable after detox can be given ongoing treatment
in the form of Naltraxone. The team will also provide
a pre-release assessment to prisoners from Liverpool
prison who show an interest in Naltrexone as a method
of maintaining a drug free status once released. |
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- Following detoxification, all clients
will be supported in the community for a period of time,
dependent on their individual needs and circumstances;
this support is usually up to three months after detox
but can be longer.
- Referrals to
other drug free support agencies, counselling etc. are
also provided.
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| For
further information please click
here to go to contacts page. |
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