Crew 2000
Crew is charity based in Scotland which specialises in information about drugs, harm reduction and sexual health.
CREW does not condemn or condone drug use but understands that when people have more information about the effects and risks– we can reduce potential harm for those who do choose to take drugs.
Started in 1992 by a group of clubbers, CREW has grown to be one of the leading harm reduction organisations in the country offering specialist knowledge on the growing public health crisis caused by “legal highs” or New Psychoactive Substances.
With a drop in advice shop in the heart of the center of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, CREW has become an iconic part of the city. The shop windows are used as a creative space to display drug warnings, alerts and harm reduction information which is updated every month- or more regularly in response to current trends. Offering up to date and relevant information and advice about psychoactive drugs people can stop by and chat with our workers and trained volunteers. The shop is also a “c-card” point meaning anyone over the age of 13 can access FREE contraception. Staff also offer Blood Borne Virus testing and support. More services for the drop in shop are coming soon!
Throughout the year CREW packs up a team of staff and volunteers to provide welfare and information stands at festivals and larger club nights across the country. We help hundreds of people at each event, easing pressure on venue staff, emergency services and making sure people stay safe. At these events our volunteers also collect surveys so we can monitor drug trends as they emerge and conduct “brief interventions” with people in the welfare and chill out spaces.
CREW takes all of this valuable information taken from our outreach work at events and festivals and uses it to help design our highly in demand training programme. We have a dedicated NPS training co-ordinator who trains professionals and young people across Scotland about the effects of drugs, how to reduce harm and what to do in an emergency.
Back in Edinburgh we have a team of counselors who provide support to people who are experiencing problematic substance use. Specialising in psychoactive substances CREW’s counseling service allows those who are not abstinent to access support through a person centered approach- service users do not have to commit to becoming abstinent but can plan their own journey to reduce or stop taking drugs.
CREW is a small charity with a big outlook. For that reason we also have a whole load of information online which can be accessed by anyone who wants to know more. MY CREW is our online information, advice and support service that allows people to “check out” how risky their drug use is and search our extensive drugs A-Z for information about a wide range of drugs. The database is searchable by substance name, chemical name, street name or (in the case of legal highs) brand name. (http://www.mycrew.org.uk) Continuing the digital support- people who may want to cut down or stop taking drugs can download the MY CREW app free from the google play store.