A Liverpool woman trapped in an abusive relationship and almost killed by her partner has turned her life around as part of a major project to help those experiencing drug and alcohol addiction.
Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) is a programme designed to address drug addiction and tackle supply in the hardest hit local authority areas across England and Wales. The scheme was developed in 2021 and during that time has helped thousands of people into treatment.
New details to mark the second anniversary of the project have revealed the impact it has had across Merseyside and in Liverpool in particular.
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Among those who have benefited from the scheme include a woman known as Lucy, who had been using class A drugs and in an abusive relationship when she found the scheme last year. The Liverpool-based woman - whose name has been changed - met Red Umbrella, which uses Project ADDER funding to get help for people experiencing sexual exploitation.
Red Umbrella stayed in touch with Lucy when she became homeless and supported her into a refuge after she was nearly killed by a partner. Lucy said without that support: “I really don’t know where I would be.”
Red Umbrella helped Lucy into drug treatment with another Project ADDER partner, Liverpool Rise, a residential rehab facility for adults in Merseyside. Now clean, Lucy is due to start a volunteering job.
Since July 2021, in Project ADDER funded areas Merseyside Police has conducted 818 disruptions against organised crime groups. The force has made 7,269 arrests for drug possession, drug trafficking, and weapons offence, while £3,933,262 has been seized.
Matt Ashton, director of public health for Liverpool Council said: “I’m delighted that Liverpool has had this major investment into our front-line services which has allowed us to realise many of our ambitions to improve the way we support people with their drug and alcohol use. Partnership working has been integral to the success of ADDER, and from a citywide perspective we are delighted with the results.
“We have been able to use a whole system approach that strengthens partnerships working with Merseyside Police, Merseycare Foundation Trust, We Are With You and YMCA Together so that we can support more individuals and communities across the city.”
Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “Intervening early to support vulnerable people is vital if we are to prevent crime from happening in the first place. Project ADDER is a fantastic example of the difference this approach can make - thousands of individuals diverted away from the criminal justice system and into the right place to get the help and treatment they need.
“This is not only helping to transform their lives, it is freeing up police resources and making our communities safer. This is backed up with robust enforcement targeting heartless individuals who seek to profit from other people’s misery.
“The results from ADDER show organised crime gangs are disrupted and dismantled, weapons are off our streets and young people are protected.”
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