And many take the line that they should not do so for at least two years of having had a problem ( the so-called ‘ two-year rule ’). While some practitioners felt that this made sense , many more felt it unfair and shortsighted , and we ultimately concluded that a more flexible approach was needed .’
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Extract from a day in the life of community support worker Dave Watkins …
‘ 11.30 . A call from my mate Larry in the cells , David was picked up again last night . Drunk and disorderly again . Out the door . In the car . Down to the cells . He ’ s sorry , not sure what happened , won ’ t happen again . Talk to Larry , another court appearance for both of us , but not today – I can take him home . The importance of networking . We ’ re lucky here , we all seem to sing off the same hymn sheet – agency workers , social services , probation , courts , hospitals , mental hospitals , doctors , DSS , wet houses , dry houses , local health board . If your approach is right , people generally want to help not hinder you . It ’ s so important to know that you ’ ve got back-up .’
PACE TOO SLOW ON ALCOHOL STRATEGY
‘ Alcohol campaigning has , it seems , been a little slow to get the results it needs . Tacked on to a number of major drug reports as a reference – “ this could also apply to alcohol ” – the needs of
‘ It seems up to the persistent minority to remind government that targets are not set for shifting .’
those who have drifted from using alcohol for regular relaxation and social confidence to desperate dependency , have been neglected . The DATs who have become DAATs may be doing their best , but it seems up to the persistent minority to remind government that targets are not set for shifting , and that a report on alcohol services due on such and such a date means that there are services looking out for a framework and a promise of commitment .’ ( DDN editor ’ s column )
NO ROOM AT THE INN
Rosie Brocklehurst was frustrated at slow progress for the many affected by alcohol problems …
‘ Right now there seems to be an unspoken consensus that we must wait for more evidence-based data . We must wait until hugely increased levels of alcohol-related harm , rising trends of misuse and irresponsible behaviours , deaths , child abuse , broken families , and unquantifiable levels of individual human suffering , come spilling out of the research databases and onto analysts ’ graphs …
‘ I try to seek comfort by periodic night-time reading of the six pages in a 95-page strategy that talks about treatment tomorrow , maybe , and live in my own little fantasy world , dreaming that perhaps a few million quid for treatment might fall off the back of a beer lorry owned by some of those nice alcohol industry people . Meanwhile , in the committee chambers and conference halls , we talk about the criminal and the victim as if they are always separate entities , and fail to set a permanent place for the end user at the policy table for fear she might slur her words .’
CULTURE CHANGE NEEDED TO TACKLE BINGE-DRINKING
‘ A cultural shift is the only way to change British drinking habits , according to Dr Jane Marshall , consultant psychiatrist at the National Addictions Centre . ‘ There ’ s a reticence to consider a link between alcohol and violence ,’ she said . Doorkeepers still keep serving people who are worse for wear … We laugh at drunk people for doing crazy things .’ ( News item )
ABSTINENCE OR HARM REDUCTION ?
Neil McKeganey , professor of drug misuse research at the University of Glasgow was involved in research – discussed here in his article – which the Scottish Drugs Forum ( and many readers , through letters and articles ) called ‘ unhelpful and manipulative ’…
‘ In Scotland over 1,000 drug users were asked about the change in their drug use that they were seeking to bring about on the basis of having come forward for treatment . Almost 60 per cent of the drug users interviewed said that the only thing they were aiming for was to become abstinent from the drugs to which they had become addicted . Less than 10 per cent of those interviewed identified harm reduction as the sole change they were looking for . On the basis of these results , it is abstinence not harm reduction which reflects drug users aspirations from treatment . These findings have touched a raw nerve …
‘ Rather than simply asserting that our harm reduction services are achieving both reduced harm and the recovery from addiction , we had better start to find out if this is the case in reality . I suspect that it is not , and that we have prioritised harm reduction at the expense of abstinence .’
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‘ It is abstinence not harm reduction which reflects drug users ’ aspirations from treatment ...’
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