Drugs are a major issue in Burngreave, dealing and drug use are still the one thing people would most like to see improved. The recent launch of the Burngreave Drug Project’s (BDP) Complementary Therapies service adds to the outreach work they’re already doing and builds on surveys and community work done by Sheffield Black Drugs Service (SBDS), all supported by New Deal and the North Sheffield Primary Care Trust.
When I visited the new project in The Studio, Hallcar Street, Emma Msigiti the receptionist and Annette Lucas, one of the therapists, were full of enthusiasm. A wide range of people are already attending for ear acupuncture, massage, reflexology and shiatsu, and they’re coming back for more! The therapies can help with all sorts of drug and alcohol problems, including stimulants like crack, and can be used alongside other treatments.
“The treatments can be a time for yourself,” Annette told me, “They help balance your emotions, calm fears and anxieties, help with withdrawal symptoms and can help you maintain abstinence. We try to make it a really safe place, we know many people who are harming themselves with drugs have experienced all kinds of abuse and have all sorts of issues. We have male and female therapists and can provide language support.”
As well as one-to-one therapies the service is running drop-in ear acupuncture sessions on Mondays to Thursdays. You need an assessment first, but the sessions are open to drug users and their families.
‘Stretch and relax’ are sessions being run at Verdon Recreation Centre, 6–7pm on Thursdays. It’s open to anyone and teaches exercise and relaxation techniques. Emma explained how excited the team are to be working from their new bases in Burngreave. By working in partnership with Turning Point, SBDS and other agencies, BDP, including the Complementary Therapy Team, are providing a wide range of services and support to local drug and alcohol users.
The service is for anyone in Burngreave who has made, or is trying to make, changes in their substance use and is open to family and friends who directly support people using substances. Referrals can be made by your GP, the Burngreave Drug Project or other agencies, friends or family.