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Contents
editor’s letter
ON THE COVER
Mental health in crisis –
DDN reports from the
Minority Mental Health
conference
‘Dual diagnosis has been much
talked about, but are we
addressing it adequately?’
4
NEWS
Glasgow’s case for consumption rooms; Scottish court upholds minimum pricing.
6
8
9
TURN OFF THE TAP
Mental health is in crisis – more so for people from minority groups. How can
we reach them, asked the Minority Mental Health conference.
NO TIME TO LOSE
With drug-related deaths continuing to rise, could it be time for a public health
model? DDN reports from the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice Parliamentary Group.
RECOVERING FROM HEPATITIS C
Tim Palin from the ‘I’m worth...’ campaign looks at the value of peer support.
10 NEWS FOCUS
The relationship between alcohol health campaigners and the drinks business
is a fraught one. DDN hears industry’s side of the case.
12 OBITUARY
Colleagues pay tribute to Darren Walters, charity worker from Lancashire.
12 RESOURCES CORNER
George Allan selects a handbook for essential skills.
13 LETTERS, COMMENT AND MEDIA SAVVY
Challenging the language of stigma; call for support on painkiller addiction.
14 REACHING OUT
Now that naloxone is officially ‘out there’, how do we find those in most need?
DDN reports on CGL’s strategy.
16 A PILL FOR EVERY ILL?
Mike Ashton looks at alcohol medication Selincro’s controversial route to market.
17 LEGAL EYE
‘Can we challenge negative rehab reviews?’ Solicitor Joanna Sharr responds.
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T
here is an absolute moral imperative on all of us to tackle the
‘outrageous discrimination’ against people with mental health
problems, said Normal Lamb MP at a recent conference (cover
story, page 6).
I don’t think any of us would disagree with that – the question
is, how? As our article shows, the problems are magnified for
people from minority groups, and when you add the stigma of a
drug or alcohol problem, it’s not surprising that people are not
presenting for help. Dual diagnosis has been much talked about in
recent years, but are we addressing it logically?
The conference itself was an extremely positive experience, with
ideas flying around throughout the day. Participants pledged to
network beyond the event, and there was plenty of support for
integrating mental health, substance misuse and social care. But it
also highlighted the need to reach beyond our sector – it was seen
as crucial to engage people at a much earlier stage, which means
joint planning with health services and education to catch them
before they are at crisis point. Yet who has the time and money to
think beyond a day job that’s full to capacity?
We have to talk about this, or it renders our good intentions
meaningless. It requires a different way of working and a different
level of investment that has to be underpinned by political support
– and not just that of our free-speaking shadow ministers. If you
have experience of working with dual diagnosis, please share it
with us.
Claire Brown, editor
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Cover by John Birdsall / Alamy
November 2016 | drinkanddrugsnews | 3