Are you a drug user or ex user?

Birmingham Drug Action Team commission a wide range of drug treatment services across the city.  Services are offered to people who need help and support to overcome their drug problem, or who need support in coming to terms with someone else's drug problem.   

Drug treatment is structured in different 'tiers'. This basically means the intensity of support varies according to each individual's needs. 

Tier one services are non-specific general services.  They aren’t specialist drug services but staff usually have some experience of working with drug users or may come into contact with people who use drugs on a regular basis (for example, teachers, housing officers and social workers). They should be able to offer general advice and guidance and can refer individuals into tier two services if they need a greater level of support. 

Tier two services – Open access drug services.  Different centres vary in what they offer but you can expect to receive advice and support on a drop-in basis.  Some centres also offer complimentary therapies (such as massage or acupuncture) as well as offering needle exchange services and drug training.  Counselling and group support is also normally offered as well as harm reduction information (how to use drugs more safely) as well as advice on blood borne viruses such as Hepatitis and HIV.  Some tier two services also offer testing and immunisation services.

There are two citywide services which offer advice and support to anyone living in the Birmingham area.  They are:

Addaction - 279 Gooch Street, Highgate, Birmingham, B5 7JE.  Tel:  0121 465 4030

Drugline - Dale House, New Meeting St, Birmingham, B4 7SX.  Tel: 0121 632 6363

Tier three services – Community Drug Teams (CDTs).  CDTs offer a more structured programme of support and can also provide medical prescribing as a substitute to the illicit drug which has been used.  Substitute prescribing is most commonly used to help drug users come off heroin, but can also be offered to dependent users of amphetamines (though this is not as common).  A range of support services are also offered such as counselling and complimentary therapies.

Community Drug Teams in Birmingham include:

Slade Road (North Birmingham) – call 0121 685 6400

Azaadi – (East Birmingham) – call 0121 685 6400

Mary Street – (South Birmingham) – call 0121 440 4444

The Terrace – (West Birmingham) – call 0121 301 1660

Community Prescribing services are also available from a number of GP surgeries across Birmingham.  GPs work alongside qualified drug workers to offer prescribing and support services to drug users.  To check if your GP offers this service visit www.birmimghamdatdirectory.nhs.uk

Drug users who enter tier three services can also access day care services.  They offer structured 12 week support, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.  This may help drug users to learn new skills as well as coping with their transition towards drug independence.  Information and advice on education, training and employment may also be offered.

There are two structured day care services in Birmingham.  They are:

Phoenix Futures, Unit 1-2 Newhall Place, Newhall Hill, Hockley, Birmingham, B4 6RP, Tel: 0121 212 1122.

Turning Point Zephyr, 334-336 Bordesley Green, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B8 1BY.  Tel: 0121 328 7108.

Tier four services – these are specialist services and include:

Inpatient detoxification – specialist units which offer medically supervised withdrawal.

Residential rehabilitation – intensive structured programmes in controlled residential or hospital inpatient environments. 

Access to these services is strictly by referral, so you would need to be in contact with Tier 2 or Tier 3 services first. 

Service for young people

 The services above all provide treatment and support to adult drug users (anyone aged 18 or over).  If you are a young person (have not yet reached your 19th birthday) and need help, support or advice about drugs then you should contact our specialist young people's centre.  HIAH (Holistic Innovative Approaches to Health) offer Tier 2 and 3 services to young people who live in Birmingham. 

For more information and advice contact:

HIAH, 10 Pershore Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 4RW.  Tel: 0121 622 7780.