LETTERS AND COMMENT
AUGUST
Scotland records yet another increase in drug-related deaths , with 1,172 registered last year , and the National Crime Agency warns that a ‘ significant escalation ’ in the use of nitazenes as a cheap way of increasing the strength of substances means there has ‘ never been a more dangerous time to take drugs ’.
SEPTEMBER
The government announces plans to ban xylazine – the effects of which , as a nonopioid , can ’ t be reversed by naloxone – along with 21 other drugs . As the minimum unit price in Scotland goes up by 15p the country records its highest alcohol-specific death toll since 2008 , while campaigners warn that new MPs need to be wise to the industry ’ s lobbying tactics .
OCTOBER
Drug deaths in England and Wales are up by 10 per cent on last year , to 5,448 . This includes a more than 30 per cent rise in cocaine-related deaths – the 12th consecutive increase – as UNODC reports that already record levels of production of the drug are set to rise further , with a potential increase in Colombia of more than 50 per cent . As analysis by PHS finds that two thirds of the people dying drug-related deaths in Scotland lived alone and half had previously had a non-fatal overdose , the Scottish Parliament sets up a ‘ people ’ s panel ’ to ask the public how to tackle the problem , while services still aren ’ t properly equipped to deal with dual diagnosis , say researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University .
NOVEMBER
Afghan opium cultivation levels are slowly increasing again – 19 per cent up on last year – following a 95 per cent drop after the Taliban ’ s poppy ban . Meanwhile , the county lines ‘ business model ’ is shifting , say police chiefs , in the wake of increased law enforcement action . While there are still 1,500 organised crime groups involved , activity now tends not to cross police force boundary areas . The tobacco and vapes bill , with its ambition to create a ‘ smokefree generation ’, is finally introduced to Parliament , and a certain DDN magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary !
DECEMBER
While the gambling industry – much like alcohol companies – tries to shift the focus onto a small cohort of ‘ problem ’ people , ultimately it ’ s ‘ big corporations who design and provide these products – and they have to bear responsibility for the consequences ,’ Glasgow University ’ s Heather Wardle tells DDN . Meanwhile all eyes are on what newly elected president Donald Trump and his cabinet picks – such as yet-unconfirmed healthcare choices Robert F Kennedy Jnr and TV doctor Mehmet Oz – could mean for a country that often sees around 110,000 drug-related deaths a year .
‘ It ’ s all well and good to crack down on vape marketing and flavouring to make sure these products don ’ t appeal to children , but ... it ’ s already illegal to sell them to children anyway .’
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
As the tobacco and vapes bill continues to trundle its way through Parliament , the current government , in its zeal for banning things , should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water .
It ’ s all well and good to crack down on vape marketing and flavouring to make sure these products don ’ t appeal to children , but as many people have pointed out , it ’ s already illegal to sell them to children anyway . So maybe just enforcing the existing laws would be a good place to start . What we don ’ t want to do is to put off adults using them as a – highly effective , as the figures show – stop-smoking tool . As David
MacKintosh rightly says in your cover story , ‘ As long as it ’ s adults , I really don ’ t think we should care ,’ ( DDN , November , page 6 ).
As he also points out , there are huge gains to be made in drug and alcohol services through getting people to switch to vapes – ‘ it does wonders for people ’ s self-confidence , so these are quick wins ’. Which brings us to the elephant in the room . I ’ ve been in this field for close to ten years now , and I ’ ve never known a sector where so many people smoke , although probation came close . And I ’ m talking about staff , not just clients . Quite why this isn ’ t discussed more , I have no idea . All I know is that on the few occasions I ’ ve brought it up at my service , it ’ s been met with blank looks , or worse . Maybe with smoking in the news all the time at the moment there ’ s a chance things might start to change , but I ’ m not , er , holding my breath . Name and address supplied
USEFUL CONNECTION
I find your articles really interesting , covering the broad issues that they do . They deal with many of the issues that are central to us and affect us serving time in prison .
I am a disabled prisoner and am reliant upon it as I am serving a long-term sentence . I am one of those IPP prisoners who has served 40 years . This inhumane instrument no longer valid but many of us are still suffering , with minimal work being done to rectify this injustice .
Your magazine deals with many issues that are of high relevance and importance – it always contains news and information about many issues that affect and are relevant to me . I am reliant on a wheelchair for my mobility and have numerous conditions which are largely ignored and not adequately treated . Name and prison supplied
DDN welcomes all your comments . Please email the editor , claire @ cjwellings . com , join any of the conversations on our Facebook page , or send letters to DDN , CJ Wellings Ltd , Romney House , School Road , Ashford , Kent TN27 0LT . Longer comments and letters may be edited for space or clarity .
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