Substance Misuse

Cardiff and Vale UHB offers a range of NHS services designed to help people experiencing problems with alcohol and/or drug use.

There is also a range of psychosocial support available, commissioned by the APB and delivered by the 3rd Sector.

Referrals should be made through the Entry to Drug and Alcohol Services ( E-DAS) (CAVDAS (Cardiff and Vale Drug and Alcohol Service)).

Our own treatment packages focus on addiction/dependence, and the majority of people in the service will have a primary problem with alcohol or opiate drugs such as heroin.

A range of interventions is offered, including:

• Drug Stabilisation programmes (usually with methadone and buprenorphine).
• Drug and Alcohol Detoxification.
• Specialist substance misuse inpatient treatment (Pine Ward, Hafan y Coed, University Hospital Llandough).
• Relapse Prevention groups.
• Some evidence-based therapies.
• Key working of complex problems usually related to substance misuse with access to a multidisciplinary team.
• GP Shared Care schemes for methadone and buprenorphine.*
• Needle Exchange (services are coordinated through TAITH - 07780784626).
• Overdose training and emergency naloxone provision (available through needle exchange and other local services).
• Inpatient liaison services to University Hospitals – Llandough and Wales (Heath Hospital).
• The Bridge substance misuse service in collaboration with the Salvation Army.

*  Due to the nature of some addiction problems treatment packages may be shared with GPs, in particular the longer term maintenance treatment with methadone and buprenorphine (the latter commonly referred to as Subutex).