Service Users Giving Advice (SUGA)
SUGA is an independent service user
group that supports the drug treatment system in
Peterborough.
A part-time post to co-ordinate and shape
service user involvement has been funded by the SaferPeterborough
partnership and the group is affiliated with the Peterborough
Council for Voluntary Services as a community group.
SUGA offer advice, information and support to
people that currently, or have previously, used drugs. They also
provide feedback on all areas of service delivery in the drug
treatment system and attend a range of multi-agency meetings to
ensure the voice of the service user is heard.
Five volunteers operate from a dedicated
office within one of the drugs services. New members are put on an
induction programme and the group provides former users with the
opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge base.
The group has proved themselves to be integral
to the running of the drug treatment system; their input and
feedback into the services is invaluable. Their experience and
knowledge of drug use and the treatment system give them a unique
insight into why things do or do not work well. They can see
potential pitfalls and potential opportunities, which helps to
target services and interventions more effectively and therefore
help to achieve better outcomes for service users.
Areas in which have benefited from SUGA
involvement are:
- Promoting the use of ‘Nevershare’ equipment –
helping to prevent needle sharing and promoting positive harm
reduction messages to reduce blood borne viruses
- Reviewing information, policies and
procedures to ensure the service user perspective is included
- Attending multi-agency harm reduction
meetings to influence the way in which the harm from drugs is
tackled within Peterborough
- Attending quarterly performance reviews with
contracted services to provide treatment providers and
commissioners with information and challenging to ensure services
are delivered effectively and appropriately
- Producing a quarterly newsletter for drug
users to reinforce key messages about services and harm reduction -
and to challenge myths about drug use
SUGA is living proof that recovery is real,
achievable and that life goes on after drugs.