Our Substance Misuse and Alcohol advocacy services aim to advise clients or their families who have, or have had, drug or alcohol dependency problems.

Substance Misuse Advocacy

The service is offered at Advice Points at ARCH Initiatives (Wirral-based Drug & Alcohol Support Agency).

ARCH Initiatives’ clients are both ‘open access’ (self referrals), and clients who have been referred there by the Criminal Justice system, such as Bail Support and ‘Test On Arrest’, whereby every individual arrested as a result of acquisitive crime is tested for substance misuse, and if tested positive has to attend for mandatory drug testing as a condition of their bail.

Clients of Phoenix Futures undertake long-term and expensive detoxification and rehabilitation in order that they can return to the community substance-free. Andrew’s role with Phoenix is to get their clients to confront their problems such as housing, debt, etc very early in their treatment, so that their return to the community proceeds as seamlessly as possible once their rehabilitation is complete. Relapse after rehabilitation is not uncommon, so his support hopefully helps to minimise the risk of relapse.

Our advocate's presence at ARCH Initiatives allows the drug support workers there to concentrate on their primary role of helping their clients to remain, or work toward, being substance-free. Clients are mainly seen on an appointment basis, which is an element in rebuilding and reinforcing structure in what are quite often chaotic lives.

This service is funded by the Wirral Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT)

Alcohol Advocacy

This service is offered at an Advice Point at Arch Aftercare (otherwise known as Craven Street) on Mondays between 1.30pm & 3.30pm.  Clients make appointments at Craven Street by calling 0151 649 0660.

Al second Advice Point is offered at the Archway Centre in Argyle St / Conway St on Tuesdays between 10.30am & 12.30pm.  To access this service, clients  make appointments at Arch for this service by calling 0151 647 8633. 

We offer home visits and appointments at our Woodside office or alternative venues when required.

The Alcohol service is funded by NHS Wirral.

Our Advocates:

Andrew Talbot  (Substance Misuse)
Joan Coman      (Alcohol)

For more information, please contact

Andrew Talbot or Joan Coman on 0151 650 1530

or

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