Features / Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2020
Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2020, day 16: Bristol Drugs Project
The Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) gives free advice and information about the effects and risks of alcohol and drugs.
The charity is part of Bristol ROADS (Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service) and also works in partnership with GP practices to provide alcohol detoxes and opioid substitute prescriptions for the community.
BDP began in the 1980s, when the area had no specialist services for people with drug problems. A group of probation officers and ex-drug users recognised the need for such a service. BDP opened in 1986, with a team of four full-time and one part-time staff.
At the start of the pandemic in March, BDP reduced its opening times in order to concentrate on those who were self-isolating, shielding or rough sleeping and moved into hotels.
BDP gives free advice about the effects and risks of alcohol and drugs. Photo: Bristol Drugs Project
In November the charity re-opened its centre in Brunswick Square to resume its Saturday service supporting people who work or who would find it difficult to get to the centre of Bristol on weekdays.
Services include triages to support transfer into structured support, Naxolone kits for opoid overdoses and confidential needle exchanges where drug users can receive free sterile injecting equipment.
The BDP Youth Work team provides free and confidential support for children and young people aged 11- to- 19-years-old throughout Bristol.
BDP Youth Work can be accessed at schools, colleges, training academies, alternative learning provisions and other youth services across the city.
The BDP Youth Work team provides free and confidential support for young people. Photo: Bristol Drugs Project
New Leaf is a new project that has just been launched by the Youth Team and is aimed at targeting young people who are adversely affected by cannabis.
It aims to help young people by reducing dependency through offering alternative ways of thinking, building positive peer relationships and building motivation for diversionary activities.
Main image: Bristol Drugs Project
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