Community Drug Teams

Strang J, Donmall M, Webster A Tantam D (1991). Comparison between community drug teams with and without inbuilt medical services. British Medical Journal, 303, 897... 

Strang J, Smith M Spurrell S (1992). The community drug team. British Journal of Addiction, 87, 169-78... 

Bilsen, H.P.J.G. van and Bennett, G.A. (1987) Motivational interviewing for addictive problems, Videotape produced by East Dorset Community Drug Team. 

This can be carried out either in an acute medical or psychiatric ward, or in a special drug-dependency in-patient unit. The advantages of the latter will include the initiation of a rehabilitation programme particularly geared towards the problems of addictions. However, some patients may well prefer a straightforward detoxification and then work in the community supported by other services, for example, from the Community Drug Team. There are several options for the in-patient detoxification of opiate dependents. These include ... 

Clonidine. This drug is now well established on the withdrawal of opiate addiction. However, due to its ability to produce postural hypotension and sedation, its use is often limited to in-patients. It is being used for out-patients in some centres but it is necessary to ensure daily contact with the patients so any side effects, particularly low blood pressure, can be monitored and this may be possible for example through the Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) of a Community Drugs Team. Further work is needed in its use for outpatients before it can be generally recommended. 

In the middle years of the 1980s some of the new statutory services for problem drug takers started calling themselves Community Drug Teams (CDTs). This title reflected the similarity between their aspirations and those of other Community Teams, particularly Community Alcohol Teams (CATs) which had developed during the previous few years. It is too early to provide a comprehensive description and evaluation of these services this chapter looks at three very different examples in order to provide a snapshot of their organisation, philosophy, and operation. 

Gillman, M. (1987) Community Drug Teams , Mersey Drug Journal, 1 11-12. 

The Community Drug Team lessons from alcohol and handicap services... 

Gerald Bennett is a Clinical Psychologist with the East Dorset Community Drug Team, based in Bournemouth. 

Will Nuzum is a Lifeline Worker with the Rochdale Community Drug Team. 

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