Page 10 - MELD Stimulant service

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4.2 BARRIERS TO SERVICE ENGAGEMENT

MELD is aware, through information collected both from assessments and
on-going discussions that individuals using stimulant drugs feel there can be
barriers to engaging with services for reasons including:

• The perception that there is no prescribed medication available
for stopping or reducing stimulant drug use.
• Personal experience of being turned away from mental health
services and being advised that drug use has to cease before
any support can be accessed.

• A lack of services that offer support out with standard 9.00am –
5.00pm hours.

• A reluctance to attend a service that is still viewed as a historical
opiate service.

• Personal experience of feeling that talking therapies as a
standalone support is not enough.

• Lack of knowledge about other non-medical interventions.

Other Feedback

Attended psychological services in the past,
I don’t feel like they work.

I can’t attend daytime appointments as I
don’t have childcare.

I just don’t know what’s going to help me.

When the support comes to an end I relapse again.

I don’t feel talking about my drug use is helpful.
Only get offered advice.

5 FUNDING

MELD was successful in securing funding from the Corra Foundation in January
2020. The primary aim of the project was to identify and explore factors that
encouraged and maintained engagement in psychosocial interventions for
stimulant drug use, and explore any barriers for participation and engagement
in psychosocial interventions. The initial proposal included visiting pubs and
clubs to speak with individuals using stimulants drugs. We were unfortunately
not able implement this part due to COVID restrictions but were able to start
offering face to face complementary therapies in September 2022 after COVID
restrictions eased.