DDN Magazine June 2021 June 2021 | Page 5

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Experts , MPs and peers call for drug law reform

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One of the most important areas of social policy is still bound by legislation passed 50 years ago ,’ Transform chief executive James Nicholls told an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act .

‘ That ’ s a long time for any legislation to stay in place without amendment or reform . It ’ s not fit for purpose , and most obviously it ’ s failed dramatically to achieve its own aims .’
More than 50 MPs and peers have now signed a statement calling for reform of the act , alongside health specialists , charities , bereaved family members and former police officers . For half a century the act has ‘ failed to reduce drug consumption ’, it says . ‘ Instead it has increased harm , damaged public health and exacerbated social inequalities . According to data analysis by Transform , drug
deaths in England and Wales have risen by more than 7,000 per cent since the act came into force , from 38 to 2,883 , while heroin use has increased from less than 10,000 people to a quarter of a million .
‘ The Misuse of Drugs Act has been a disaster ,’ said Nicholls . ‘ In the 50 years since it was introduced , we have seen both use and deaths rise dramatically . The UK now has the
' In the 50 years since [ The Misuse of Drugs Act ] was introduced , we have seen both use and deaths rise dramatically ...'
JAMES NICHOLLS
highest drug deaths in Europe , and the situation continues to get worse . The government ’ s recent review of drug markets sets out this failure in detail , and confirms that it cannot be resolved simply through more policing . We need to start a debate now to finally break the deadlock .’
Statement at transformdrugs . org / mda-at-50 / parliamentary-support . See feature , page 6

A quarter of UK adults worried about post-lockdown drinking

Local News
REACHING OUT WDP is to deliver new substance misuse services to rough sleepers in the London boroughs of Camden and Islington , including specialist support for women and people with co-existing mental health issues . The new contracts will help the charity ‘ reach more people in need ’, said chair Yasmin Batliwala .
PREGNANCY PROGRAMME A scheme to support women who drink while pregnant has been launched in Bury , Bolton , Salford and Trafford by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust ’ s Achieve service . The Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy programme will provide information , guidance and practical support and treatment to women and their partners and carers .
ONE IN FOUR UK ADULTS are concerned about the potential impact of lockdown easing on their alcohol consumption , according to research by With You . A poll of 2,000 people found ‘ widespread concern ’ about falling back into old drinking habits or shaking off drinking patterns developed during lockdown . The same proportion also said they ’ d be reluctant or embarrassed to seek support for problematic alcohol use , while two thirds wouldn ’ t feel comfortable starting a conversation with a partner , friend or family member if they were worried about their drinking . This is despite one in ten respondents saying that they did have concerns about someone else ’ s drinking . The charity has also launched a new public awareness
new campaign to help people have ‘ more open , positive ’ conversations about alcohol . ‘ Find the Right Moment ’ includes a video about how to raise the issue of someone ’ s drinking and encourage them to seek appropriate help , as well as a campaign page with links to alcohol support locally or online . ‘ People are understandably worried about how and when to bring up the issue of a loved one ’ s drinking , fearing they could make things worse or be met with anger , but a non-judgemental conversation can make a big difference and be the first step in someone making positive changes ,’ said With You ’ s executive director of services for England , Jon Murray .
Deaths in England and Wales from alcohol-specific causes topped 7,400
last year , according to provisional data from ONS – almost 20 per cent higher than in 2019 and the highest since records began in 2001 . The final quarter of 2020 alone saw 1,963 alcohol-specific deaths , which at 13.6 per 100,000 people is the highest recorded in any single quarter . As in previous years , the death rate was far higher in areas of deprivation , with a male death rate more than four times as high in the most deprived local areas than the least deprived .
Quarterly alcohol-specific deaths in England and Wales : 2001 to 2019 registrations and quarter 1 to quarter 4 2020 provisional registrations at www . ons . gov . uk
Find the Right Moment at www . wearewithyou . org . uk / support-ourwork / find-right-moment
HELPING HAND Edinburgh-based homeless charity Rowan Alba is looking for volunteers to support its CARDS befriending service for isolated people with alcohol issues . ‘ The regular contact that volunteers provide can be both lifechanging and life-saving ,’ said volunteer Paul McCay . Details at rowanalba . org / volunteering-for-cards /
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JUNE 2021 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 5