Please email the editor , claire @ cjwellings . com , or post them to DDN , cJ wellings ltd , 57 High street , Ashford , Kent tN24 8sG . letters may be edited for space or clarity .

PainfuL isoLation

I was very pleased to see your piece on support ( or lack thereof ) for those of us struggling with addiction to prescription and over-the-counter drugs ( DDN , October , page 10 ). People often refer to mental health – rightly , in my view – as a ‘ Cinderella service ’ but it seems to me the same could be said for support for people whose problems are with legal substances , despite the truly heroic efforts of people like David Grieve .

In my experience the problem is not only that GPs are happy to dish out repeat prescriptions for the sake of a quiet life , and that there ’ s little in the way of specialised support , it ’ s also the attitude you can face when attempting to access generic drug services or attending groups or meetings – the general feeling can often be that , as you didn ’ t buy your drugs from a dealer , your problems are somehow not nearly as serious or important .

More money for specialised support would obviously be very , very welcome , but it ’ s hard to see how that ’ s going to be a priority at the moment , and the BMA ’ s proposed national helpline would also be a useful first step . But until we can address this hierarchical attitude that exists in some places then I ’ m afraid

we ’ ve still got a very , very long way to go . Name and address supplied

fouL Language

At the Conservative Party conference , a lesser reported fact is that Liz Truss , the new justice secretary ( and Lord Chamberlain ) referred to ‘ junkies ’ with the phrase ‘ homes burgled to feed a junkie ’ s habit ’.

I am furious that she would use such a derogatory term on a national platform , and depressed to see the lack of notice the press took of her comments . The most vulnerable people in our society have blame heaped on them for a range of complex social and emotional problems , which are very far from simple to understand , let alone resolve . To determine ( extremely simplistically ) that crime is down to ‘ junkies ’ flies in the face of even the government ’ s own evidence . The ‘ modern crime prevention strategy ’ illustrates clearly the significant falls there have been in shoplifting and burglaries – something which Ms Truss conveniently forgot , because it didn ’ t fit with the narrative of the day .

We all need to do more to tackle stigma , and calling out language like this is the very least we should all do . Karen Tyrell , Addaction

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In response to DDN retweet from @ BBCNews on ‘ fix rooms ’ plan set for approval

@ DDNMagazine @ BBCNews where is money coming from for this when basic drug services being cut ?

@ BOPjo _ anne

@ DDNMagazine @ BBCNews great idea ! hopefully rest of country will catch up , let ’ s not let people die needlessly anymore

@ Jackinthos

Cardiff looked at DCRs as did Brighton … here ’ s hoping Glasgow takes it to the doing stage , recent HIV cluster highlights need

@ KFxNews In response to ‘ train your staff to empower service users with # naloxone ’ ( Oct , p20 ): Wish we could . Still not available in my country [ NZ ] @ julianbuchanan In response to Pat Lamdin article ( Oct , p16 ):

I had the pleasure of working with this guy – happy retirement Pat @ LauraWebbMktg

In response to ‘ Punishing regime ’ ( Oct , page 8 ):

@ WE _ ARE _ ANPUD @ INPUD @ DDNMagazine Well done here , I ’ m quite sure a short phone call from @ POTUS would stop this murder @ lovelifewhy

In response to ‘ How I became a social worker ’ ( Oct , page 18 )

Thanks DDN Magazine for the opportunity to discuss the topic of Social Work in Substance Misuse Services # socialwork # proud @ AlcoholDrugServ

@ hfeeneyASWP

Just read October ’ s @ DDNMagazine . As usual 101 thoughts running through my mind . Great read ! Have a read yourself

@ RecoveryDundee

/ DDNMagazine @ DDNMagazine www . drinkanddrugsnews . com

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