Drug Treatment And Testing Orders....

[SideshowBob]

anyone else out there on one of these orders, and hows it going?
it would be good to hear from people in different parts of the country to find out if the dtto setup is any better or worse wherever you are.
Personally ive been on an order since the end of august and the whole things been a nightmare from the start. Probation are just shit as usual, the actual testing team have only just started functioning properly(as in they have only just found a company to do the testing) (i havent even seen my support keyworker yet)....
so all in all its not going too well here, but i will update this if theres any interest on this subject.
pls get in touch also if u are part of the support teams for these orders or are a probation officer with any feedback exc.
( apologies for the messy writeup)
steve.

[Silver Fox]

Hi - Whereabouts are you? In the UK?

The Drug Treatment and Testing Order set-up is a realtively new development in the UK. The concept started in England and more recently has been instigated in Scotland. Individuals who are considered to be suitable for an Order are those whose offending behaviour is thought to be directly related to their drug use; amenable to medical and counselling treatment; and where the individual appears to have enough maturity and motivation to create some positive changes in their drug use and their life in general. It is a direct alternative to custody.

Different regions run their DTTO's in different ways. However, the basic underlying principles are the same: to give the individual a chance to turn things around - to decrease their offending, to stabilise / cease their drug use, to make some positive lifestyle changes and to get back to a 'normal' life.

The way that I see it, Here is a chance to make a really good go of things.
* If you want to stabilise / decrease your drug use, or to detox, here is the opportunity to do it in a structured way, with the support of a keyworker. the keyworker can help you make up a structured self-detox program; or the Dr can help you to work towards a prescription, if that's what you want.
* If there are issues such as anxiety, sleep problems, the nursing staff should be able he help you work through these things.
* If you need to unburder yourself about horible stuff that has happened to you, there is keyworking support or psychological support available.
* If you require help with housing, benefits, financial management etc, the social workers can help you.
* If you need physical checkups, dental care, physio treatment, the Dr can assess you and refer you to appropriate care.
* If you want to join the gym, or whatever, the keyworkers can help you organise memberships
* If you want to study / go to college / get an apprenticeship / return to work, there are links to those things.

You have access to a huge variety of resources. The more initiative you show, the more proactive you are in stating your needs and creating a plan with your keyworker, the more that you will get out of the Order. You have a team of Dr, nurses and social workers to support you. Make the team work for you in reaching your goals.

Put it this way,
* It's got to be better than being in custody
* You're 29 yo - where do you want to be when you're 30; hopefully in a better position than now. That is what this Order is trying to offer you.
Take the opportunity and run with it.

(I guess you've figured which side of the DTTO fence I sit on...I'm a Dr that has seen some pretty impressive changes in guys that bite the bullet and go for it.)

I hope you're the type of guy that will really Go For It!
All the Best
(Please Feel free to stay in contact)

Silver Fox

[SideshowBob]

i cant remember the name of my judge dealing, but hes well up for these orders.... In direct contrast to a lot of the circuit court judges that wont even entertain the thought of a DTTO.
shame on them!
i just plod on mate, but ive got direction, honest!

[SideshowBob]

ok just a quick update...
im still using, but not as much as before....
i do go for a week or so with out using, but im still around people that are using and it just becomes part of life to b using really.
i got to know e few people on the testing order at my local probation and they all agree that heroin is something that will stay with u forever..i dunno its like your body holds on to the memory of it or something...so i wonder weather i shuld ever i will go back on this order volanteraly when my court imposed order finishes, cos at least im not alone with this shit (my normal mates dont even know im using....(they just think im a theiving b'stard...)
a mate of mine (on the same order as me) went over again the other day, and hes even using on top of a meth script... now hes way older than me, and i wonder if thats what ive got to look forward to sometimes.
fuck, hes got a nasty lookin hole in his groin now where hes poked up so much...and as far as i can see hes got no real problems really (i mean hes not fuced up in the head like some users i know) hes a proper solid gold chap in every meaning of the word... but it gives me no hope to see him so far gone it really doesent....
ok im on one here but i suppose im just not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel.
ok someone else post some kind of stuff on this subject....i cant be the only DTTO junkie reject on here...please post some kind of comments, even if its to moan about the (mostly) dysfunctional probation/ddr/dtto system...
if my situation changes at all then i will update this as i go....
(oh im moving to brighton at the end of the week so im planning on starting afresh but at a reasonable pace so wish me luck.

[WHITE MISTRESS]

high,swim just finished his DTTO order about a month ago,swim is now going along to the arts care classes and is about to start an allotment w/polly tunnel.i also still use but only on ocasion.but what has been said above is some verry sound advice.collage to further your education and (hopefully) get a better quality of life via a good job.
you have to fill the void that the gear has left wide open or you will find somthing else to fill it with.and if thats other drugs or the same ones,then ya just wasted a golden oppotunity.
this thaught helped me kick the methadone script the doc put me on,"I wan't to be in controle of my life,not a dealer,a works or some foil or the gear that's smoked on it or the gear thats shot up with it.people using drugs never caused anyone a problem,but people abuseing drugs is causing everyone a problem.GOOD LUCK WITH IT MAN WHATEVER YOU DECIDE.
THE MAJOR PROBLEM ITH THE dtto IS MAKING PEOPLE WHO ARN'T READY IN THEIR OWN HEADS TO GIVE UP A HABIT,AND THE ONLY HELP YOU GET IS FROM WHAT SOMEONE HAS READ IN A BOOK.IMHO,EACH AND EVERY DRUG WORKER SHOULD BE AN EX ADDICT.THEN YOU MIGHT GET SOME REAL HELP AT THE TIMES YOU MOST NEED IT..W_M

[WHITE MISTRESS]

And I Live In Wales. And On A Side Note.the More People On A Dtto Order,the More Likley You Are To Sucseed.i Found That The Help We All Gave To Eachother Was Far Better Then Any Social Worker Or Probation Officer.to Mostof Them It's Just Another Job...