what we've done - mid-term report

Mid-Project Report - Spring 2000

We aim to equip the people of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham with the knowledge and skills needed to deal with the issues arising from drug use in the community.

CDEP aims to provide education which:

• Enables the community to minimise the harm caused by the use of legal, illegal and illicit drugs;
• Responds to the needs of the whole community;
• Celebrates the diversity of cultures, beliefs, religious backgrounds and social and family situations, gender and sexuality;
• Promotes physical, social and mental health;
• Recognises that access to appropriate treatment is an integral part of prevention;
• Encourages the exploration of attitudes, values and issues;
• Locates drug use within local, national and global contexts;
• Dispels myths about drug use, drug cultures and drug users;
• Acknowledges the complexities of the social and political context of drug use;
• Seeks to redress the negative impact of social exclusion, discrimination, disadvantage and inequality.

FOREWORD

The first phase of the Community Drug Education Project has been of great interest. Its roots in the very local consultative mechanism of the citizens' jury was innovative and exciting. The project is effectively marrying these local recommendations with the expectations of the Government's Drug strategy. Education is a key component of all effective drug strategies, taking its place alongside treatment, community safety and supply reduction. It was heartening to see Lewisham Council taking this issue so seriously by providing the initial resourcing and impetus for the Project.

The partnership which CDEP has established with the Health Action Zone reflects the diverse nature of community based drug education and is effectively bringing together education and health issues into the same arena.

I have been impressed by the balance CDEP has struck between employing tried and tested methods of drug education alongside more innovative, pilot approaches. I have no doubt that much learning will emerge from the Project which can be adapted and employed in other areas, as well as a valuable service to the local people of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. I will watch CDEP's continued development with keen interest.

Mike Trace
U.K. Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator

"The success of this Project cannot only be measured by the positive impact it has had locally but also by the amount of interest it has gained on a national level from so many other projects looking to develop innovative ways of meeting the drug education needs of their local communities"

Mike Goodman
Director, Release

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