Keep in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter!
/DDNMagazine @DDNMagazine
ContEnts
‘Most
employers
have become
even more
risk averse’
ON THE COVER
Tackling stigma head on, p6
F
4 NEWS
Two in five homeless deaths drug-related;
millions prescribed addictive drugs.
6 MORE THAN MY PAST
Forward Trust’s new campaign is tackling
stigma head on, says Asi Panditharatna.
8 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
BREXIT
Political turmoil is dangerous for drug users,
says Nick Goldstein.
10 THE POWER OF NALOXONE
Emily Hill looks back on Harbour Housing’s
life-saving decision
11 UP CLOSE AND
INTERPERSONAL
Group therapy has huge potential to help
recovery, as Dr Tim Leighton explains.
12 JUST THE JOB
Hélène Begg looks at how Brighton’s Pavilions
service is rethinking its approach to employment support.
14 LETTERS & COMMENT
Prescribing problems; political expediency.
16 JOURNEYS OF RECOVERY
Humankind’s staff take us with them on their cycling adventure.
DDN is published by
CJ Wellings Ltd,
Romney House,
School Road,
Ashford,
Kent TN27 0LT
t: 0845 299 3429
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
Editor: Claire Brown
e: [email protected] Subscriptions:
e: [email protected]
Advertising manager:
Ian Ralph
e: [email protected] website:
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
Reporter: David Gilliver
e: [email protected]
Designer: Jez Tucker
e: [email protected]
Website support by
wiredupwales.com
Printed on environmentally
friendly paper by the
Manson Group Ltd
or a long time now we’ve been involved in initiatives to help
remove barriers for those seeking to get back into work (page
6 and page 12). Remember the UKDPC’s work on tackling
stigma and getting people who have used drugs back into
employment? Remember the old heated debates in DDN about the
‘two-year rule’ used by some employers to demand ‘clean’ time
before people could be considered for a job? Several years ago we
were involved in a recovery conference, where we invited senior
staff from large organisations to outline their policies for supporting
people with criminal records to begin a career with them.
But have we moved on at all? The prison door revolves as much
as ever and with the exception of a few shining examples in the
Timpson mould, most employers have become even more risk
averse, refusing to look at the opportunities for them in unleashing
the talent and skills of people who would offer so much valuable
experience in return for a foothold. Let’s hope that Forward Trust’s
campaign continues to gain traction as the voices of its
participants get louder. It’s much needed, that’s for sure.
Unfortunately, the political situation gives little confidence to
anyone – least of all those who have cause to worry that their
health may be further compromised and their stability challenged
in the days ahead. Nick Goldstein turns over a worrying scenario on
page 8. Can we hope to be any the wiser in a few weeks? It’s
anyone’s guess. Let us know how you are weathering the
uncertainty.
Claire Brown, editor
Keep in touch at www.drinkanddrugsnews.com and @DDNmagazine
Cover montage by JellyPics
DDN is an independent publication, entirely funded by advertising.
Proud to work in partnership with:
CJ Wellings Ltd does not accept
respon si bility for the accuracy
of state ments made by
contri bu t ors or advertisers.
The contents of this magazine
are the copyright of CJ Wellings
Ltd, but do not necess arily
represent its views, or those of
its partner organisations.
October 2019 | drinkanddrugsnews | 3
Editor’s lEttEr