Drugaid is a voluntary organization that offers therapeutic interventions, counseling, and support for individuals with substance abuse issues and their families. Their vision is to bring about positive and sustained change through opportunities that minimize harm and maximize resilience. Their peer mentoring program in Wales aims to support existing services, provide ongoing guidance during and after treatment, minimize relapse, and enhance quality of life. The program matches individuals in recovery with mentors to help them access education, training, volunteering and employment opportunities. Potential benefits for participants include individual support in gaining confidence, skills, and moving forward in their lives.

1. PEER MENTORING WALES
GREG REES
CASEWORK SUPERVISOR

2. Who are Drugaid?
A voluntary organisation that offers:
 Therapeutic intervention, counselling and support for
anyone with substance misuse issues
 Support for family and friends of substance misusers
 A variety of different projects in different areas
 Training, education and awareness raising

3. Drugaid’s Vision
To bring about positive and
sustained change for
individuals and
communities in support of
the aspirations and needs
of those affected by their
own or someone else’s
drug or alcohol use, by
offering opportunities
aimed at minimising harm
and maximising resilience.

4. Services
• Family Services • Diversionary Activities
• Young People • Training & Awareness Raising
• Young Offenders • Needle Exchange
• Rehabilitation • Auricular Acupuncture
• GP Shared Care • GOALS
• Peer Mentoring • Drop-in centres
Wales • Strengthening Families
Programme

5. PEER MENTORING WALES
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
• SUPPORT & COMPLEMENT EXISTING
SERVICES
• PROVIDE ONGOING HELP, GUIDANCE &
SUPPORT DURING & AFTER TREATMENT
• MINIMISE THE POTENTIAL FOR RELAPSE
• MAXIMISE THE POTENTIAL FOR ACHIEVING
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
• ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE

6. CRITERIA FOR
PARTICIPANTS
• Have a current or past substance misuse problem
• Have achieved abstinence or an appropriate level of
stability in their drug &/or alcohol use
OR
• Have been affected by the substance use of a loved
one
• Be committed to making positive lifestyle changes
• Have the motivation to access appropriate
interventions to enable their individual goals to be
achieved
• Are prepared to comply with the requirements of the
Scheme

7. WHAT MAKES THE SERVICE
UNIQUE?
• It’s for drug & alcohol users & affected
others, but is not a treatment service
• Practical rather than therapeutic
• Focuses on helping people move on
• Individual action planning for individual need
• Builds on existing skills & helps identify new
ones
• As much or as little input from peer mentors
as the individual needs

8. WHAT WE DO & HOW WE DO
IT
• Provide individual, focused support
• Deliver self empowerment, confidence & motivation
courses, recruitment workshops & accredited peer
mentoring training (additional courses in pipeline)
• Guide & support participants in accessing ETE &
volunteering opportunities
• Enable participants to maintain their involvement in
ETE activities via intensive 1-to-1 support

9. POTENTIAL BENEFITS
FOR PARTICIPANTS:
• Individual, ongoing help & support in gaining
confidence, new skills & moving on
• Practical assistance in becoming job-ready
• Relapse prevention support
• Information, guidance & help in accessing
education, training, volunteering & employment
opportunities
• Robust aftercare provision
• Potential future career opportunities