the hub – A Substance Misuse Service for young people 18 years and under, their families, their friends or any relevant professional. In our work ‘substances’ include: drugs, alcohol, solvents and tobacco.

In the past young people’s workers were based in a number of different agencies around Blackpool. This made it difficult to develop and integrated approach to our work with young people and ensure they got the best possible service.

May 2006 saw all these different workers move into a single administrative base from which all young persons substance misuse services are now co-ordinated.

This is called the hub

What services we offer:

• Information and advice
• One-2-one support
• Groupwork
• Presentations to youth groups, schools, professionals who work with young people
• Specialist treatment services
• Linking into other services and help young people access a wide range of social, educational and health activities and services.
• Training for relevant professionals

Anything else related to young people and substance misuse.

The hub has links to many services for young people in Blackpool, and can help point you in the right direction.

Who are we:

What’s happening – News and Events

Councillor Sue Wright (centre left) with (front Row) Louise Walmsley, Carol McNair and Kris Johnson of the hub, and (back Row) Paolo Pertica, Head of BSafe Blackpool and Clare Hampson of the hub.

50 children in resort treated for drugs use  

More than 50 Blackpool children have gone through rehab for drug problems in the last year.

Figures released show the youngsters – all under the age of 18 – have accessed what has been described as "structured" treatment. Of those, 19 were for opiates – including heroin, although none of them were below the age of 16 – 25 for cannabis and five for ecstasy. The statistics, released by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, emerged as a new support service for youngsters with drug and alcohol addictions has been launched in Blackpool.

The Hub, a multi-agency team based at Prudential House, Topping Street, will work with young people – supporting them and their families to deal with problems such as smoking, drinking or drug-taking. Paolo Pertica, Head of the BSafe Blackpool, said the rehab figures were a reflection of the hard work being done to help young people with drug problems.

He said: "The real emphasis has to be on the fact that more people are being given treatment and helped, and Blackpool has been developing services to do this. "Obviously we do what we can in education to try to prevent young people trying drugs in the first place. "But there will be a number who start taking drugs, and we have the services available to try to stop them becoming established users.

"The new service, The Hub, is part of that and our overall work in Blackpool to treat more people." Cllr Sue Wright, Vice Chair of BSafe Blackpool, said: "Despite the stereotypes of a typical user, there are many types of people of all ages, sexes and backgrounds that find themselves embroiled in the slippery slope of substance misuse – which can rob them of their job, personality, self-esteem and, in severe cases, their life. "Thanks to the efforts of Blackpool Council, the Primary Care Trust, the police and other key agencies, quality support is available and people are accessing it."

Five years ago, the resort was deemed as one of the worst areas in the North West for drug services, with some of the longest waiting times and highest drug-related deaths. But Blackpool has since been commended by the Home Office and National Treatment Agency for its "exceptional" performance in delivering its Drug Intervention Programme and for developing effective drug treatment services.

Mr Pertica added: "Thanks to all the agencies involved in this success, and the courageous determination of the people in need of professional support, more than 1,500 local adults received treatment for drug dependency last year. We hope this latest development will give youngsters one of the best opportunities available to help them kick their addiction for good and get their lives back on track."

* Youngsters aged 18 or under, or families, can seek advice about substance misuse by contacting The Hub on (01253) 476010.

Taken from The Gazette May 2006