Drink and Drugs News DDN December 2019 | Page 3

UPFRONT IN THIS ISSUE Drink and Drugs News is published by CJ Wellings Ltd, Romney House, School Road, Ashford, Kent TN27 0LT t: 0845 299 3429 Editor: Claire Brown e: [email protected] Advertising manager: Ian Ralph e: [email protected] Reporter: David Gilliver e: [email protected] 8 Designer: Jez Tucker e: [email protected] REGULARS 4 NEWS Scotland’s first heroin-assisted treatment; almost 70 per cent of 20-year-olds gamble 15 LETTERS & OPINION What’s the meaning of harm reduction? 16 REVIEWS The restorative power of walking 25 COMMENT Sobriety more than just a ‘lifestyle choice’ Subscriptions: e: [email protected] 26 ON THE COVER: HIT Hot Topics website: www.drinkanddrugsnews.com Website support by wiredupwales.com 6 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by the Manson Group Ltd Cover by Marstockphoto CJ Wellings Ltd does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers. Funding for residential rehabs has reached crisis point The contents of this magazine are the copyright of CJ Wellings Ltd, but do not necessarily represent its views, or those of its partner organisations. Evaluating recovery services in a prison setting 20 PROUD TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP ‘Choices are pleased to be a partner with DDN as the leading news source for this sector. We are hoping to be able to profile all our members in the coming year, so please watch this space!’ Hannah Shead, CEO of Trevi House 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. DDN looks back on another turbulent year 12 What it means to spend Christmas in rehab ‘Connecting can revise our response to a world gone mad’ THIS MONTH’S ISSUE went to press on polling day, and we brace ourselves for the result. It brings to a close months of being pounded by the same rhetoric without much hope that our opinions count. The HIT Hot Topics conference (page 8) is familiar with this sensation. Speakers travel across the world to share frustration at opportunities for harm reduction being squandered and governments driven by greed and ignorance. It would be easy for any one of us to think our voice didn’t matter – but actually it does, how seemingly insignificant the context. Against a backdrop of world problems, ideas were sparked and it was heartening to realise that the thought of connecting – with ourselves and each other – can revise our response to a world gone mad. There’s plenty in this issue that we hope will connect with you, not least the deeply personal stories from those finding their way through prison and treatment. And in response to your requests for more information on problem gambling, we’ve compiled an in-depth guide (centre-page pull-out) to help you support anyone affected by this devastating addiction. We hope you have the festive season you wish for and we’ll see you back in print on 3 February. Please keep in touch! Claire Brown, editor Keep in touch at www.drinkanddrugsnews.com and @DDNmagazine WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM DEC 2019-JAN 2020 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 3