News
ALL PARTY GROUP LOBBIES PHE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG HELPLINE
THE ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ( APPG ) for Prescribed Drug Dependence has set out its case for a national helpline for people struggling to withdraw from prescription drugs such as opioid-based painkillers , tranquilisers and anti-depressants . Prescribing for the latter has risen by more than 500 per cent since 1992 , says the APPG .
Up to 10m people in the UK are taking benzodiazepines , sleeping pills , antidepressants or other psychiatric medications at any one time , says the group , while 10m people a year also receive opiate painkiller prescriptions . ‘ It is therefore proposed that the government should fund a national helpline to provide support and advice for this group of patients , most of whom have become dependent simply because they followed their doctor ’ s advice ,’ it states .
A declaration of support for the proposed 24-hour helpline has been signed by leading medical bodies including the royal colleges of GPs , physicians and psychiatrists , while a recent meeting of the APPG heard from researchers at the University of Roehampton that around 770,000 long-term users of anti-depressants in England could be taking the drugs unnecessarily , at a cost to the NHS of £ 120,000 per day . Researchers also found that more than 250,000 people were taking benzo - diazepines and ‘ z drugs ’ for more than six months , far beyond the NICE-recommended limit of two to four weeks .
The response of doctors and psychiatrists to prescription drug dependence varies widely , states the APPG , but is characterised by a ‘ lack of awareness and relevant training ’. The absence of specialist NHS support means that those with dependency issues are reliant on small , struggling independent charities for help , several of which have had to close through lack of funding . The
‘ Up to 10m people in the UK are taking benzo - diazepines , sleeping pills , antidepress ants or other psychiatric medica tions at any one time .’
proposed helpline would be low-cost and could provide appropriate support during withdrawal as well as help with symptom management , says the APPG .
‘ Long-term users of antidepressants , tranquilisers and opioid painkillers can suffer devastating effects when they try to withdraw , often leading to years of unnecessary suffering and disability ,’ said APPG chair Paul Flynn MP . ‘ And yet – unlike illicit drugs – there are hardly any dedicated services to support them . The cost of unnecessary antidepressant and tranquiliser prescribing is now estimated at £ 60m a year in England alone . We therefore urge Public Health England to set up a national helpline to support individuals wishing to withdraw from these drugs , and to reduce the tremendous cost to patients ’ lives and the public purse .’
PHE ’ s director of alcohol , drugs and tobacco , Rosanna O ’ Connor has agreed to consult with colleagues about the proposal , the APPG has announced .
Call for national helpline to support patients affected by prescribed drug dependence ( PDD ) report at prescribeddrug . org
OLDER ISSUES
A NEW REPORT on the impact substance use can have on older carers has been published by Adfam . ‘ A family member ’ s substance use is a difficult thing for anyone to deal with , and getting older can exacerbate challenges that put a strain on anyone , at any age ,’ says the charity . No one judges you here – voices of older people affected by a loved one ’ s substance use at www . adfam . org . uk
NEW DIRECTION
PHE HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW THREE-YEAR CONTRACT for Mentor UK to expand its ADEPIS education programme , marking a ‘ significant move away ’ from ‘ hard-hitting ’ messages that risk proving counterproductive in trying to change young people ’ s behaviour and attitudes . ‘ While encourag ingly young people ’ s use of drugs and alcohol continues to fall , the more common use of cannabis and the emerging risks from new psychoactive substances remain a concern ,’ said PHE ’ s director of drugs , alcohol and tobacco , Rosanna O ’ Connor .
‘ We now have stronger evidence on what works to educate and influence young people ’ s attitudes and behaviour on drugs and alcohol . I urge all local areas to support the use of the excellent ADEPIS programme in their schools and among community prevention workers .’
|
COLLECTIVE ACTION
COLLECTIVE VOICE is joining with PHE and NHS providers to identify a shared agenda to help minimise drug-related deaths . The organisations will develop and share management systems to target resources to those most at risk , ‘ reframe ’ clinical practice to prioritise the physical and mental health needs of service users , and publish a Statement of practice principles . ‘ Equally we will ensure that concern about drug-related deaths does not create a risk averse clinical culture in which service users ’ legitimate ambitions for recovery are thwarted ,’ says Collective Voice , with publication of the statement planned for the summer ( DDN , March , page 7 ).
TIMELY THEMES
SUBMISSIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED for the 2017 Recovery Street Film Festival , on the theme of ‘ making up for lost time ’. This can
|
be interpreted as ‘ things you wish you ’ d said , regrets , 24 hours you ’ ll never get back ’ or anything else that participants find significant , say the organisers . For more details or to make a submission visit www . recoverystreetfilmfestival . co . uk
TIME TO SPECIALISE
SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES IN WALES need to adapt to meet the needs of the growing number of older people accessing them , and more specialist older adults ’ services should also be developed , says a Welsh Governmentcommissioned report from the Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse ( APoSM ). ‘ Substance misuse among older adults is a growing problem ,’ said public health minister Rebecca Evans . ‘ Levels of alcohol and drug misuse – including illicit drugs and prescription and over-the-counter medication – is a cause of concern .’ Substance misuse in an ageing population at gov . wales
|
FRIENDLY FACES
A NEW ONLINE COUNSELLING SERVICE for gay and bisexual men looking for support around drug and alcohol issues has been launched by Terrence Higgins Trust and London Friend . Funded by PHE , Monday / Friday includes an online support group and one-to-one virtual counselling and aims to reach men in rural areas where support can be rare . ‘ If you find yourself stuck in a cycle , these online services can help you understand the role that drugs and alcohol are playing in your life and give you the knowledge and tools to make the changes you want ,’ said London Friend chief executive Monty Moncrieff . ‘ Wherever you live , and whether you want to cut back a bit , be safer or quit entirely , we ’ ll be there at the click of a button to support , help and guide you through it .’ www . fridaymonday . org . uk
|
‘ We ’ ll be there at the click of a button to support , help and guide you ’.
Monty Moncrieff
|
4 | drinkanddrugsnews | April 2017 www . drinkanddrugsnews . com