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Contents
editor’s letter
ON THE COVER
‘We’ve needed to hear these
problems are not an add-on’
P
Adjusting to civvy street, p6
4
NEWS
Glasgow consumption room moves a step closer; RSPH backs festival drug tests.
6
BATTLE LINES
The transition to civilian life can be a struggle leading to addiction. DDN hears
how Combat Stress help veterans back on their feet.
8
TIME FOR ACTION
Social action is the way forward in tackling complex needs, Lord Victor
Adebowale tells DDN. A reader gives his personal experiences.
10 LOOKING AHEAD
Prevention work with young people is a vital investment, says Michael O’Toole .
10 MEDIA SAVVY
The news, and the skews, in the national media.
11 CLINICAL EYE
We neglect our student nurses at our peril, says Ishbel Straker.
11 LEGAL LINE
Do CQC always get it right? Nicole Ridgwell advises on how to challenge.
12 BEGINNING OF THE END
Kevin Jaffray suggests how to start the difficult conversation on palliative care.
13 BECOMING FREE OF HEPATITIS C
To mark World Hepatitis Day, the I’m Worth… campaign is launching a survey –
and needs your views.
14 HEIGHT OF ECSTASY
Summer festivals bring many opportunities for young people to experiment
with MDMA. Kevin Flemen gives the guide to staying safe.
16 A SPACE TO LISTEN
Dual Diagnosis Anonymous is a new peer-led resource, says Dr Raffaella Milani.
18 STEPPING UP
Kate Halliday explains what new apprenticeship rules mean for the sector.
19 LETTERS AND COMMENT
In praise of dynamic outreach, and responses to last month’s articles.
Reporter: David Gilliver
e: [email protected]
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roblematic substance use rarely travels alone. The body of
evidence keeps growing on the many strands that converge
to make us lose direction, and we’re familiar with how drug
and alcohol use can crash through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
We also talk a lot about revolving doors – to prison, debt,
homelessness and a state of disconnection. So it’s heartening to
hear that senior representatives from many health and social care
sectors will be coming together to discuss joint action on complex
needs (page 8). This follows a call for evidence from the Office for
Civil Society – and a detailed questionnaire that keeps substance
misuse problems at the heart of a shared agenda. How long have
we needed to hear that drug and alcohol problems are not the
‘add-on’ but symbiotic with mental health problems and all
number of signs of personal breakdown?
As a clear case study we focus on veterans this month, through
talking to the charity Combat Stress (page 6). It’s hard to imagine
the level of PTSD that drives many of those leaving the armed
forces to self-medicate, but encouraging to hear that with the right
dedicated support they can do ‘very, very well’.
And as the summer rolls on, so does the schedule of festival s
that bring many young people face to face with the irresistible
opportunity to experiment. Kevin Flemen’s article (page 14) should
help to provide accurate advice, grounded in harm reduction.
We’re doing a combined July/August issue for the holiday period,
but will be online, on Facebook and tweeting through the summer.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Claire Brown, editor
Keep in touch at www.drinkanddrugsnews.com and @DDNmagazine
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July/August 2017 | drinkanddrugsnews | 3