Substance Misuse Services in Pembrokeshire aim to reduce the harm caused to the individual, their family, friends and the community, by providing assessment, care management and a variety of community interventions and access to in patient and residential treatment.
Services are provided by Pembrokeshire County Council, Hywel Dda and Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS), and all referrals to the Adult Substance Misuse services are via DDAS- 01437 967980.
What is substance misuse?
Substance misuse is the continued use of drugs or alcohol despite negative consequences to the individual using, their friends, family and the community. All substance use has the potential to cause health, social and criminal consequences.
The most commonly used substances are alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, others include stimulants such as amphetamine, opiates such as heroin and depressants such as benzodiazepines.
What causes substance misuse?
Substance use often starts when people are young and influenced by friends and family. Most peoples use will reduce as they get older, but for others it can become a problem. While initially they may have enjoyed the effects, they may find it increasingly difficult to enjoy life without substance use.
Some people may find that substance use helps them to deal with difficulties in their lives, and this can often lead to increased use. Substance use itself may then cause problems for the individual, financially or within their relationships influencing them to use more, creating a vicious circle.
Some people use substances to manage physical or emotional pain, often while providing short term relief, the substance use will have long term negative consequences.
What problems are caused by substance misuse?
Increased use of drugs or alcohol can lead to physical and/or psychological dependence making it harder for the individual to stop using despite the consequences.
Substance misuse can have severe consequences to the individuals physical and mental health, it can lead to family breakdown, financial difficulty, homelessness, arrest, unemployment and in some instances death.
Drugaid's Choices Service offers support, preventative and harm reduction information, and therapeutic and practical interventions to children, young people and families in relation to the use of drugs and alcohol. Choices deliver outreach campaigns and offer training and ongoing consultancy and support to universal, targeted and specialist services. Tel: 01437 967980