THE DRUGS GUY

ABOUT ME

• I have worked with problem drug users for 17+ years. I've supported homeless heroin and crack injectors in central London within a substance misuse outreach team. It was during this time that I completed a diploma in higher education for substance use and misuse at the Thames Valley University. Here I learned about the many reasons people slip into problematic substance use.  I then went on to manage the outreach team and worked closely with social services, local government and the police to develop better strategies for working with vulnerable homeless drug users.

• On completion of my diploma I went travelling to research how other cultures deal with drug dependency and addiction. This journey took me to the Thamkrabok monastery in Thailand where they administer a herbal concoction to detoxify opiate (heroin) addicts. This induces a process of extreme vomiting, followed by heat treatments and rituals designed to eliminate toxins from the body. I also visited Vietnam where they use a very secretive herbal tablet called Heantos to detox their opiate dependents. I wrote my final dissertation on an African root called Ibogaine, which is still used today in certain countries to aid detoxification and recovery.

• On returning to the UK I moved to Bristol and started working alongside GPs and other health professionals prescribing methadone to Heroin users. Creating care plans and risk screens and encouraging people to engage in treatment and recovery day programs, it was clear to me during most of my assessments that the issues all started when they were young. 

This guided me to fulfill the need for preventative work with young people to help avoid the long term fallout of drug dependency.

• I have been working in schools and colleges across Bristol for the past 4 years and feel passionately about the positive role people like myself can have on the future of our youth. I'm regularly amazed at how open to positive change young people can be if they are just given the right spark and direction.

• Right now in Bristol the council are making major cuts to funding for substance support in all schools. I feel this is very shortsighted and potentially puts young people at a higher risk of problematic substance use. I feel this education and guidance is essential in helping young people make informed choices about their own risk taking and ultimately their future, especially at a time when the NHS has recognised a significant rise in illegal substance use among 11-16 year olds. This is one of the reasons I have set up my own company to make sure this valuable support stays in place for our youth.

• Reiki- I have been studying Reiki for around 15 years and I am fully qualified and insured to give treatments. This can really compliment regular 1-1 sessions. As well as in certain rehabs, it is now commonly used by the NHS in hospitals and can be effective in relieving both physical and emotional symptoms such as pain, stress, anxiety and depression. 

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     I am Fully DBS certified and Police checked to work with all vulnerable people

                                                   QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

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•                A higher Diploma in Substance Use and Misuse 

•                Whole Family Worker QCF  level 4 (social services approved)

•                Up to date Advanced Child Protection training

•                Motivational Interviewing 

•                Brief solution focussed Therapy 

•                Qualified Reiki practitioner with 15 years experience

•                Mental Health awareness training 

•                Self harming awareness training

•                4YP healthy relationships and sexual abuse