Grant saves at risk drugs project

The money will be used to help support the family and friends of users

A community drugs project in Bristol, which was threatened with closure, has been awarded cash for a new project.

Knowle West Alcohol and Drugs Service (KWADS) looked set to shut down in March after losing £250,000 in funding due to council cutbacks.

But the charity has secured £150,000 from the Safer Bristol Partnership to fund a support service for the family and friends of users.

The service will include counselling and a telephone hotline.

Chief Executive Kate Croucher said: "There is a huge amount of good work that's going on by a number of different organisations.

"But obviously, the one gap has been this support for family and friends, so now we have that, we have a bit more of a holistic package of care for everybody."

'Turn up dead'

One mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC News, that caring for her drug-user son had consumed her life.

"You just become more insular, more isolated, your focus is just totally on that person, whether they're going to turn up dead - he was found unconscious in the park a couple of times - whether there's going to be a massive row," she said.

"I called the police once on him and that was an extremely difficult decision."

The grant, from the government-funded multi-agency Safer Bristol Partnership is for 12 months.