Hazardous drug use can be connected to wider factors going on in someone’s life. We need to change the system so people can get the help they need. This means reducing barriers and transforming treatment and service delivery.
Provide wraparound support
Wraparound care can work with clients where they’re at and if they are in crisis. They can provide the range of support needed, and work with clients on what is most important to them at the time. This can include addiction treatment, mental health, housing and/or employment support, and peer support.
Provide low threshold services
Low threshold services (or one-stop-shops) are open to anyone who requests support, with no entry criteria. Any door is the right door. These services can immediately work with clients in some capacity with no expectations of continued engagement.
These services can provide immediate relief from crisis and facilitate people getting longer-term help.
Adapt detox services for different substances
Detoxification services help people get through the effects of drug withdrawal. Social detox will work for some people. But others using large amounts of certain drugs require medical assistance.
Detox services need to adapt for different drugs. For example, most social detox programmes are only 5-7 days to cater for alcohol or opioid use. But the peak of synthetic cannabinoids withdrawal is 4-7 days, symptoms can last up to 2 to 3 weeks, and there is a very strong desire to use again.
Download the Matua Raki Substance withdrawal management guidelines.
Build the workforce
Thread peer support through all services
Peer support can engage people much earlier in their recovery journey and provide expert advice on how services need to adapt to cater to these vulnerable populations.
Provide substance-specific training to frontline staff
The effects, harm and withdrawal from different drugs can be extremely varied, particularly new psychoactive substances. But knowledge gaps shouldn’t be a barrier for effective responses.
Make use of the free ‘Addictions 101’ training offered by Matua Raki. But others will need more specialised knowledge. For example, paramedics and ED staff will need to know substance specific clinical best practice on how to stabilise, treat and refer someone to get further support.
A number of providers could help develop and provide training:
- Matua Raki
- NZ Drug Foundation
- Local alcohol and other drug services
- Acute drug harm community of practice.
Provide appropriate housing solutions
The right housing can make all the different for people facing acute drug harm. When someone who doesn’t have a home is given one, they are able to focus on more than mere survival.
Advocate for laws to be based on public health principles
Criminalising drug use doesn’t stop acute drug harm. To make sure the law isn’t a barrier for people getting help, we need to make sure we have a supportive legislative framework in place.