Crack cocaine support centre open

A new centre to help crack cocaine addicts has opened in Leicester.

The Baseline Project is a one-year pilot scheme which will offer treatment and support to users of crack cocaine and other stimulant drugs.

The centre, on Upper Nelson Street, includes a drop-in facility, one-to-one drugs counselling as well as showers, fitness equipment and welfare advice.

Money for the project has come from the city and county's drug and alcohol action teams.

The centre is thought to be the first of its kind in Leicester.

Mags Walsh, from Leicester City Council's drugs and alcohol team, who has helped set up the Baseline project, said a great deal of effort had done into setting up the centre.

These people are at a very low point in their lives Mags Walsh, Baseline Project

"This has been established to specifically support stimulant users as opposed to opiate users or other types of drug and is based on international and national research on what works for them.

"These people are at a very low point in their lives and different drugs require different treatment.

"With stimulants, unlike opiates where there is a substitute support medication that can be given, there isn't anything for stimulants so treatment relies on other aspects such as motivational therapy and support from others," said Ms Walsh.

A former crack cocaine user, known as "Kerry", said the centre had helped her to get clean.

"I've been clean for a month. When I felt like scoring, I had phone numbers to call people at any time so if I ever felt like scoring, I could ring someone from Baseline rather than my dealer. It makes a massive difference."