A TEAM of specialist outreach workers is on the streets of York, seeking to tackle drug misuse in the heart of communities affected by it.

The workers, from York-based drugs support agency Compass, are holding regular community education sessions with local residents to raise awareness of issues related to drug misuse.

Sessions are already held in Clifton and Chapelfields, and there are plans to extend the service into Tang Hall and Foxwood.

But the workers are also engaging directly with drugs misusers by speaking to them on the streets and visiting them in their homes.

The scheme follows a successful Compass project, called Citybeat, which saw workers making direct contact with drug misusers in York city centre.

Exchanging dirty needles for clean ones is part of the scheme's work, but a wide range of drug support services are also available.

Matt Knight, Compass area manager, said: "There are so many different levels of success. With one person success could be getting them to inject into their arm rather than their groin, with another getting them to smoke rather than inject."

Matt said that while outreach workers will speak to people on the streets, they never approach someone "cold" and ask if they have a drugs problem.

Instead, they tell the person about the outreach work and leave it to them to share any information.

He continued: "We may have spoken to someone, we may have had a referral or a request for a home visit, while word of mouth plays a big part.

"We talk to people and take things from there. Support services begin with us trying to get the user into a regular counselling slot, possibly tying them into complementary therapy.

"Beyond that we would look to get them assessed for further treatment, possibly getting them into a clinic with substitute medication or onto a detox or rehab programme."

Matt added: "Overall it is about empowering the communities to deal with these problems while trying to get users into mainstream treatment programmes.

"The early stages have been very positive."

The outreach work is being funded by Safer York Partnership's Communities Against Drugs programme.

Elaine Curtis, CAD development officer, said: "It is a proactive approach. People living in areas being targeted sometimes think they don't want the work on their doorsteps, they think drug use is being condoned. But if it means users are being helped to use safely, being offered good information and support, then that is good news for the community.

"We are hopeful of success. If there are people out there not accessing the services available, and the outreach work means they start accessing them, it will have succeeded."

To access Compass outreach work, or for more details, ring 01904 647474.

richard.edwards@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, December 12, 2002