UPFRONT
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IN THIS ISSUE
6
CALLING THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY OUT
INSIDE
4 NEWS People ’ s panel tackles DRDs ; families confront gambling failures
12 MORE THAN A JOB Support from IPS 18 PATIENT FIRST ! Release ’ s column 19 MICHAEL MARMOT Call to action 20 NITAZENES Changing the narrative 22 CAREERS Drug service manager 24 RECOVERY CITIES Exciting times
10 16 14
Poppy seed addiction Lived experience
Carol Black interview
STRONGER TOGETHER !
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How can we deny the health risks of alcohol ?
It ’ s hardly surprising that the alcohol industry is reluctant to commit to clearer labelling – but calling into question the evidence of health risks is an unacceptable turn ( p6 ). Pointing the finger at ‘ a small group of people who don ’ t use the product responsibly ’ is a cynical tactic , but denying the level of risk ( including links with cancer ) is a crime against public health .
With its sights on positive change , the recent GPs conference brought clinical evidence and data to help us consider how we practise ( p8 & 21 ). But we also have a useful reminder not to stall while we wait for our ideals to be realised ( p20 ) or for poor treatment practice to be overridden or ignored ( p18 ).
A decade after Michael Marmot identified the root causes of health disparities , with strategies to address them , we hear that they have in fact worsened , with drug and alcohol use a key driver ( p19 ). So should we be concerned that the system change championed by Carol Black is going more slowly than she would like , three years on from her independent review ( p14 )? There have been clear areas of progress but the disconnect on mental health between drug treatment and the NHS is one of the issues we ’ re not yet getting to grips with . If you can contradict this , we ’ d love to hear from you . Claire Brown , editor www . drinkanddrugsnews . com and @ DDNmagazine
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