Drink and Drugs News is published by CJ Wellings Ltd , Romney House , School Road , Ashford , Kent TN27 0LT t : 0845 299 3429
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IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER : Flying high 10
Profile
: Dan Carden MP
6
Home and dry
INSIDE
4 NEWS New sanctions for drug offences ; US drug fatalities up
14 EXTENDING REACH Homelessness is not a single issue
15 CHEMICAL COCKTAIL New risks for street drug use
16 COMMISSIONING CHALLENGE Are we ready for the new investment ?
22 MOVING FORWARD The chance of a new life in challenging times
23 I AM A ... psychotherapeutic counsellor
Is AA simply a marketing strategy ?
18 20
STAYING STRONG IN PARTNERSHIP
‘ Volunteering at the farm addresses isolation and boredom , causes of relapse ’
Peer mentors at SIG Pathways in our Partner Updates at www . drinkanddrugsnews . com
DDN is a self-funded independent publication . Our bespoke partnership packages provide an opportunity to work closely with the magazine . Please get in touch to find out more .
‘ It turned a difficult time into something meaningful ’
‘ The role helped me build my self-esteem back up and I felt like I had some purpose again ... It turned a very difficult time in my life into something meaningful .’ In our cover story to mark Volunteers ’ Week ( p6 ), contributors speak volumes about the value of being welcomed into the workplace and supported to gain new skills and career goals .
Our other main focus is housing , because as Claire McCreanor points out ( p18 ), ‘ the correlation between insecure housing and substance use is sadly as strong as ever .’ We look at how physical and mental health problems , adverse childhood experiences and many other complex issues feed the cycle of homelessness , leaving people to feel they are ‘ constantly at the wrong door ’ ( p14 ).
Another key component is challenging the stigma that can so often prevent people from asking for – or even accepting – help . So we were really pleased that Dan Carden MP talked openly to us about his own ‘ incredibly isolating ’ experience of addiction ( p10 ), which has led him to become passionate about the power of recovery communities and ‘ dedicated to championing visible recovery ’.
You can hear Dan speak at the DDN Conference on 23 June – look forward to seeing you ( in person ) in Birmingham ! Claire Brown , editor Keep in touch at www . drinkanddrugsnews . com and @ DDNmagazine
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