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Harm Reduction & Drug Treatment Website

The Problem

The number of drug users receiving treatment in the period 1998 to 2007 increased from 85,000 to 195,000.

Prior to the launch of the hi website in November 2008, there was no central resource to provide support for frontline staff, drug mis-users and their extended network of family and carers.

 

 

The Solution 

The national resource hiwecanhelp.com (hi) was developed to provide this support - hi is a harm reduction and drug treatment website where help and up-to-date information can be accessed by those affected by drug use.

Not only does the website support service users -  an innovative aspect of hi is that it can be used by regional drugs partnerships to assist with strategic planning and frontline operational working. Each regional partnership can obtain a license and upload their own area specific information to ensure service users receive relevant and region appropriate information.

The website was developed by Roweena Russell, an experienced drug worker originally from the North Tyneside Drug Action Team. NHS Innovations North awarded hi second prize in their Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2009, recognising its excellence in service delivery.

The site was launched in November 2008 and quickly gained a worldwide following. With help from NHS Innovation North, Roweena has now successfully launched a social enterprise, Curb Office Limited, to manage the website. To date the majority of drugs partnerships in the North East region have already purchased licenses and are using the site as a policy delivery tool, saving the treatment system time and money in the process. As of February 2010, a number of partnerships in the Yorkshire & Humber region have also become licensees, with other regions to follow.

Benefit to the NHS

The website benefits Regional Drugs Partnerships by providing them with a ready to use policy implementation vehicle. Service users have access to relevant information quickly from a site that is responsive to their needs.

For further information please contact Barbara Marriner on 0191 516 4400 or email barbara.marriner@nhsinnovationsnorth.org.uk and visit the website at www.hiwecanhelp.com

05/Aug/2010

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