|
Frequently asked questions
Why
don’t they just stop?
People don’t want to be problem drinkers or drug users. It is
not something people are proud of. Many people will have tried to
stop but find the withdrawal process a physically and emotionally
uncomfortable if not painful one. As stated above, people start and
continue substance use for a reason. If they stop using what will
numb the pain or make them feel better about themselves or fill the
void the substance use fills?
How
do you know if they’re telling the truth?
You don’t. But starting from the point of believing that all
drug users and problem drinkers are lying is prejudicial and judgemental
in the extreme! It is also neither ethical practice nor a good way
to start any type of professional relationship. All of us are capable
of minimising or trying to excuse behaviour or actions we are not
proud of. Be empathic. Faced with the stigma and shame of problematic
substance use AND a social worker sat in front of you, what would
determine what you would tell them? What would help you open up
to that social worker?
What
can you do if someone denies they have a problem?
Think about why they would deny they have a problem and take it
from there. Either they’ve not got one, or they don’t
know they’ve got one, or they are afraid to admit to you they
have a problem for fear of what you might do. Be open about why
you think they might have a problem (if your views differ) and hear
what they have to say. This needs you to be knowledgeable enough
to know that any substance use does not equate to having a problem.
Justify on what grounds you are concerned about their use. Conduct
a level 1 assessment of their use (see section on ‘Identifying
and assessing substance use’), if they are agreeable, as a
way of exploring the matter in partnership. If they are afraid to
admit to you they have a problem then you need to reflect on why
that is and what you can do or say to show that you are there for
support as well.
Should
I worry more if they are using heroin as opposed to cannabis?
Not necessarily. It’s not the substance itself but the effects
of it and the risk its acquisition and use poses to themselves and
others. Ask yourself again what is your concern? Drug users, and
heroin users in particular, are demonised merely from using the
substance rather then their behaviour or actions under its influence.
It’s the latter you are likely to be concerned about not the
former. Someone who is self medicating high doses of prescription
tranquilisers may be behaving in ways that put themselves or others
at more risk than a person who has a controlled pattern of heroin
use. Focus on the harmful behaviour rather than being tempted to
judge people on the type of substance they are using.
Where
can I find out about drug and alcohol services in my area?
There are several key ways to do this:
- Contact
your local Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) and ask for a list
of service providers in your area. Your regional DAAT can be found
at the following link: http://www.drugs.gov.uk/Directory
- For drugs.
Contact Drugscope at www.drugscope.org.uk.
Click on ‘Find a drug service’ on the top menu. This
will bring you to ‘Helpfinder’. Click on ‘Search
the database now’. This is an online directory of drug services
in your region.
- For alcohol.
Contact Alcohol Concern at www.acloholconcern.org.uk.
Click on ‘Help and Information’ at the top of the
homepage then click on ‘Alcohol Services Directory’
on the menu on the left. Again these are listed by geographical
region.
Links between social work and substance use - introduction | Extent of substance use
Why people use substances | The social worker's role | Barriers to good practice and how to overcome them | Examples of good practice
|
