The Coordination Office for Drug-Related Issues

The Coordination Office for Drug-Related Issues (KS) of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) addresses the growing incidence of addiction and drug misuse and the large number of dependency-related illnesses in the region by providing information, advice, training and future-centred preventive pilot projects. The services provided by the Coordination Office for Drug-Related Issues are mainly used by over 450 organisations dealing with addiction in Westphalia-Lippe.

As adviser and co-ordinator (among other functions) in the field of working with addicts the KS is the central contact point for specialist organisations, LWL clinics, parents' groups and committees. This is true especially at regional level, but also applies at federal and European level. The KS trains workers in the area, provides practical working aids, and provides information on research results and current legislation.

Since its establishment in 1982, the LWL Coordination Office for Drug-Related Issues has provided further training to over 13,000 individuals working in institutions and initiatives providing assistance to addicts. This includes workshops and specialist conferences, as well as expert training provided parallel to employment. Among other qualifications offered, the KS trains those working with addicts to be addiction counsellors or social/addiction therapists.

The model projects designed and tested by the KS are a force driving the further development of the work with addicts - and not just in Westphalia-Lippe. Projects such as "Emergency Aid for Drug Addicts", which provides treatment places within 48 hours, or "FreD - Early Intervention for New Drug Users", operating in eight German states, inject progressive impulses into the help system for addicts.

Together with municipalities and districts, the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) forms part of the Westphalia-Lippe's communal self-administration. On behalf of its members, the 18 districts and the 9 self-administered municipalities in Westphalia-Lippe, the LWL deals solely with tasks which can be professionally and financially addressed more efficiently on a supra-regional basis. This mainly involves tasks in the areas of social affairs, health, youth and culture.