National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Health and Social Care Committee / Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse / Ymchwiliad i gamddefnyddio alcohol a sylweddau

Evidence from NHS Health Board – ASM(Q) 19 / Tystiolaeth gan Bwrdd Iechyd GIG – ASM(Q) 19

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse

Survey Consultation Response

Organisation: Anon, NHS Health Board

Questionnaire

01. Which client group(s) do you work with? (For example, under 18s, older persons, homeless, or female only)

NHS Health Board providing specialist care for pregnant women who misuse substances.

Female childbearing only.

02. What are the main reasons why your clients take drugs or drink excessively?  Please tick all that apply.

If you work with more than one client group or you feel that there are other reasons as to why your clients take drugs or drink excessively, please comment in the box below.

§ Peer pressure;

§ A way to deal with stress;

§ Client(s) already substance reliant;

§ Mental Health;

§ Relieve social anxiety;

§ Environmental factors (for example – excessive drinking and/or drugs normalised in the home/community)

§ Relationship problems;

§ Self-medication.

Comments

Because they “like it”.

03. Are there certain groups of people who are more likely to be affected by drugs and excessive drinking? If so, which groups might they be?

Not really, I see people from all walks of life, working, not working, criminals, professionals.

04. Does a particular stage of your clients’ lives influence their likelihood of taking drugs or drinking excessively? If so, what stage might that be? (i.e. age, relationship breakdown, unemployment etc.)

Domestic Abuse, exploitation (sexual and financial), self-medicating to improve mood due to mental health issues or to relieve anxiety, peer pressure, life-long habit.

05. What barriers exist for your client(s) when trying to access support and services?

§ Fear of reporting to authorities;

§ Removal of children into care.

06. What barriers exist for services when trying to access support for client(s)?

Prejudice, family pressure, denial, long waiting times for help.

07. What do you consider to be barriers for staff and frontline services in working with your client group(s), or substance misuse generally?

Prejudice, family pressure, denial, long waiting times for help, centralisation of services making access very difficult, especially in rural areas.

08. Where do you think efforts should be targeted to address the issue of alcohol and substance misuse in Wales?

Supermarkets - everyone has to eat or buy alcohol somewhere.

Schools, youth clubs, nightclubs, town centres.

09. In which local authority area do you work? If you work outside of Wales, please write your local authority area below.

Neath Port Talbot

Contact Details

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