Bolton Drug Service (BDS)

Phone: (01204) 544640        

Address: Bentley House, Weston Street, Bolton BL3 2RX (map)

Bolton Drug Service at Bentley House is part of the Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and provides structured treatment services to adults who use drugs. Usually BDS see opiate (heroin, methadone) or crack cocaine users, though under some circumstances users of other drugs might benefit from treatment here as well.

You can refer yourself for treatment at BDS, or you might be referred by your GP or another service such as Probation. If you are referred or refer yourself to BDS, you will be given an initial appointment, where a worker will talk to you about your choices for treatment, including ioptions for moving towards abstinence, and developing your skills and education if this is something you want to do. Then, with a worker, you will put together a plan to start working towards your goals.

Treatment at Bolton Drug Service could include one-to-one sessions with your keyworker, health care, detoxification at home with support, or referral for detoxification as an in-patient, prescribing of medication (such as methadone) to help to stabilise your drug use, and referral to residential rehabilitation if appropriate.

Bolton Drug Service works closely with many GPs in the area. This allows some people to receive drug treatment from their GP’s surgery if this is right for them.

Needle and syringe exchange scheme

Bolton Drug Service manages and operates the Needle and Syringe Exchange service. The service aims to reduce the spread of blood-borne viruses amongst injecting drug users and the wider community, and can provide testing for blood borne viruses like Hepatitis B and C, and HIV. The scheme also provides the facilities for the return of used equipment for safe disposal.

This is a drop-in service during office hours except for Monday mornings. A number of community pharmacists (chemists) are also part of the needle and syringe exchange scheme.

For more information, click the 'Needle Exchange' link to the left.

Getting to Bolton Drug Service and/or getting in touch:

Bolton Drug Service is based in Bentley House on Weston Street (map). Weston Street is a short walk from the train station and is close to many bus routes. Bentley House has a ramp for wheelchair access.

• You can contact BDS by telephone for advice, information or to make an appointment with a worker, during office hours on (01204) 544640. There is an answerphone service when the office is closed
• You can also call in to book an appointment or to see the duty worker during office hours
• You can refer yourself to the service or you can ask to be referred by another agency, including your GP

Bolton Drug Service is open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:50pm and Thursday 9:00am to 6:30pm

There is a women-only session on Monday mornings from 9:00am to 1:00pm.