UPFRONT
Drink and Drugs News is published by CJ Wellings Ltd, Romney House, School Road, Ashford, Kent TN27 0LT
Editor: Claire Brown e: claire @ cjwellings. com
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IN THIS ISSUE
COVER STORY: SERVICE USER CHOICE
6
INSIDE
4 NEWS Prison drugs; support after OST 8 FAMILIES Hidden harm 10 HOMES Supported housing 12 AFTERCARE Leaving custody 15 PRISONS Wellbeing champions 18 PARLIAMENT Drug-related deaths 22 CLEARER CONVERSATIONS
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28 RECOVERY Neighbourhood plans 30 FIRST PERSON Experiences of stigma 32 CREATIVITY Recoverist Month
Ketamine – a growing problem Rural services
The power of AI
JOIN US AT DDN 2026!
‘ New ideas aplenty to bring away, collaborate, and turn into positive change’ @ lukeoneil84
Last chance to book – visit our DDN Conference page at www. drinkanddrugsnews. com
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Let’ s take inspiration from collaboration!
One of the biggest changes in drug and alcohol treatment over the last few decades hasn’ t been a new medication or a radically new strategy. It’ s been a gradual shift in recognising that the person sitting opposite us isn’ t simply the recipient of treatment – they’ re an equal partner in it. As our articles throughout this month’ s issue demonstrate, the conversations that matter most are the ones where people feel listened to, respected and involved in decisions about their own care. They recognise that the expert at the heart of treatment is the person themselves.
Perhaps most importantly, shared decision-making means recognising that setbacks don’ t erase progress and that treatment and recovery are rarely a straight line. Liam’ s reflections on entering treatment in the 1990s( p30) are a reminder of how far we’ ve travelled – being treated with suspicion and made to feel like a problem to be managed rather than a person to be supported were once commonplace.
We can’ t be complacent, but let’ s take inspiration from all the great collaborative work in this issue. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more of it at the DDN Conference this month! Claire Brown, editor www. drinkanddrugsnews. com and @ DDNmagazine
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