FAMILIES support only came when they were already in crisis.
KETAMINE RESOURCES This is exactly why we’ ve developed a series of resources designed to support services to become‘ ketamine-responsive’. These include:
· accessible harm reduction posters that talk about nasal safety, mixing risks and signs of cognitive impairment
· short, engaging educational videos explaining how ketamine travels through the brain and the body( aimed at both staff and the public)
· psychosocial toolkits that staff can use directly in 1:1 sessions
· guidance on adapting service pathways and assessments to include ketamine-specific questions and language.
We know that effective engagement doesn’ t just come from knowing the pharmacology – it comes from having the confidence and language to hold the conversations at the right time. That confidence then filters into local communities, GP surgeries, schools, colleges, supported housing services and online spaces.
And time really matters. A proactive response gives people the opportunity to recognise changes in their own patterns and seek help early. A reactive response tends to happen only after physical or psychological harm is already present. We have the knowledge and the tools – what we need now is a collective willingness to embed them consistently across the system.
Because if we don’ t, then the default route becomes the same one we’ ve seen so many times before: panic, restriction, criminalisation. And we can already hear the suggestion starting to circulate:‘ Maybe it needs to go to class A – then people will take it seriously.’ Or we could listen to the evidence, treat people with respect, and respond – before the bladder. Before the cramps.
David Gill runs training consultancy Risk & Resilience www. risk-and-resilience. co. uk
FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Looking back over 40 years made CDARS realise the scale of their achievements. DDN reports
‘ Y ou can have all the skills you want, but if you don’ t have compassion that means nothing,’ said Franco Toma, CEO of CDARS – Community Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services, based in South London. The charity’ s 40th anniversary event in Wimbledon was an opportunity to celebrate – and to reflect on the team’ s lived experience, personal journeys and partnerships that were transforming lives.
‘ What began as a small initiative has become a cornerstone of support,’ said the mayor of Wimbledon.‘ CDARS is a place where people are seen not just for their struggles but for their potential.’
Guest speaker Dot Smith, of Recovery Connections in the North East, reflected on key LERO traits – that‘ everything we do is co-produced and co-designed by community members. When people come through the door they don’ t feel there’ s any power imbalance whatsoever.’ She spoke of the value of welcoming people‘ at every stage of their journey’, supporting them into employment, and said CDARS were‘ way ahead’ on the LERO journey and legacy.
‘ I was very reluctant to admit I had a problem,’ said Selena, one of the CDARS community members to take the stage and receive an award for her achievements with the group.‘ But what made a difference was the environment, the staff, the other participants and their acceptance of me – and that made a difference to how I evolved. I was in survival mode. Now I’ m exploring, discovering – I’ m engaged. CDARS gave us space to be ourselves and grow into ourselves.
‘ Recovery month was set up to remember those who didn’ t make it,’ she added. It’ s a month of remembrance as well as celebration.’
A LEGACY OF COMPASSION Dorothea Bickerton founded CDARS – formerly Community Drug Helpline – during her son David’ s desperate struggle with addiction. Her story lives and breathes despite the 20 years since it was originally published – and will be desperately familiar to anyone who has seen their loved one start to disappear, reappear and then pass away far too soon.
The treatment options offered back then may seem very limited to us. But there was no family support available to Dorothea and her family at all,
Above: You are not alone. Franco( centre), Ian Bickerton( second right) and members of the CDARS community. Right: Franco and Dot Smith.
which is why she started her own –‘ a helping hand’ that became so much more. However this couldn’ t save her when David began his final descent, which makes her struggle even more poignant.
The situation is bleak but the way Dorothea tells her story, through a conversation with David, makes you turn over the questions with every page – what would I have done? What alternative was there? Could I have done the‘ tough love’ when he was wrecking family life? The picture of David’ s family, particularly the confusion of his young sister Cheryl, is a haunting one. The book is eloquently and engagingly written, with diary entries and poetry helping to convey innermost thoughts.
Dorothea’ s brave legacy lives on alongside David’ s. Their work laid the foundations for a thriving charity whose work shines through the CDARS community. Her son Ian – David’ s brother – spoke movingly at the 40th anniversary event about his family’ s experiences. His mother, distraught at everything happening to David and her family,‘ wrote a book as a distraction’, he said. He thanked everyone at CDARS for filling the void for families:‘ It’ s because of you that I hope they know they’ re not alone.’ DDN
You Are Not Alone by Dorothea Bickerton, available at https:// amzn. eu / d / 45ELWRN
WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM OCTOBER 2025 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 23