Drug Abuse & Harm Reduction

M'Lop Tapang works with street living and working youth who habitually abuse drugs. This risk taking behaviour is often a way to suppress negative feelings, painful past experiences, hunger and difficult family situations. Our team of specialized substance misuse social workers engages with this disfranchised youth to listen and support them practically and emotionally. The team focuses on building upon existing skills, strengths and resilience to increase self worth and raise future aspirations. They aim to empower and equip youth to make more informed choices about their lives.

In order to adapt to this new situation, M’Lop Tapang decided in June of this year to close the centre and reallocate funds and staff to an improved drug outreach team, based at the playground in a shelter with washing facilities.

The team manages a drop-in centre designed to cater for the specific needs of this client group. M.T has created a safe drug free place for users or those at risk to access shower facilities, hot nutritious meals, sport and daily activities. Young people are assigned a case worker who is responsible for carrying out a holistic participatory assessment and supports young people to acknowledge their addictions, identify triggers and develop coping mechanisms to reduce, stop or use drugs more safely. Together they create a development plan individually tailored to meet the clients unique needs. Young people who attend the centre also have access to group work, medical services and creative activities to raise self esteem and confidence.

In addition the team undertakes harm reduction work in communities where drug use is prevalent. Workers disseminate factual education materials on a wide spectrum of topics, including raising awareness and safe practice on H.I.V prevention. Community members are engaged in discussions about the dangers of drug use, peer pressure and together they are encouraged to seek solutions. Social workers also offer support to ex users in the local prison and a relapse prevention service. The harm reduction team work in collaboration with partners and other M.T services.