Drink and Drugs News 0917 DDN1709 | Page 3

Keep in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter! /DDNMagazine @DDNMagazine Contents editor’s letter ON THE COVER ‘As we celebrate recovery, let’s credit harm reduction’ A New support for Ketamine users, p6 4 NEWS Highest ever levels of drug-related deaths; Trump ‘responds’ to opioid crisis. 6 STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH Sara Woods asks Mat Southwell and Amy Massey for some informed harm reduction advice on ketamine. 8 LASTING IMPRESSIONS We need to be ready to help young people at the formative stages, say Addaction and YoungMinds. 10 BREAKING POINT Lack of investment is gambling with lives, says the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice APPG. 10 MEDIA SAVVY The news, and the skews, in the national media. 11 A DIFFERENT WAY Stopping the rise of DRDs needs an innovative approach, says Neil McKeganey. 12 THE ‘EXPLOSION’ THAT NEVER HAPPENED At the end of the 1980s the threat of a crack epidemic loomed large. Mike Ashton and Natalie Davies separate fact from fiction. 14 LET’S PUSH FORWARD! The dynamic iCAAD team are having an amazing year – get involved! 16 FAMILY INSIGHT A CQC inspection has given Haringey’s Insight Platform team further momentum for life-saving interventions. 17 LEGAL LINE Nicole Ridgwell gives you the nuts and bolts on CQC. 18 THE BIGGER PICTURE Lucy Mauger describes the background to Addicted Parents, the BBC documentary on Phoenix Future’s specialist family service. Reporter: David Gilliver e: [email protected] Published by CJ Wellings Ltd, Romney House, School Road, Ashford, Kent TN27 0LT Editor: Claire Brown t: 01233 638 528 e: [email protected] www.drinkanddrugsnews.com Advertising manager: Ian Ralph t: 01233 636 188 e: [email protected] Designer: Jez Tucker e: [email protected] Subscriptions: t: 01233 633 315 e: [email protected] Website: www.drinkanddrugsnews.com Website support by wiredupwales.com Printed on environmentally friendly paper by the Manson Group Ltd s we enter ‘recovery month’ there’s no better time to reinforce harm reduction – the route to recovery, and the reason it’s sustainable. What works for one person won’t work for another and we need to open every door to better health. At a recent parliamentary group participants voiced their anxiety about the way drug treatment is being compromised by lack of funding and prioritisation (page 10). There were calls for a new approach, condemnation of punitive measures, and yet more warnings about a looming public health crisis. All were concerned about taking the strain off the NHS by tackling chronic health conditions that could be treated at a much earlier stage by enhancing drug and alcohol treatment. So as we celebrate recovery, let’s use this vibrant demonstration of success to credit the role of harm reduction. How many people who celebrate their number of years ‘clean’ nearly lost their life to an overdose? How many owe their life to a drug or alcohol worker, mentor or friend in the right place at the right time, who knew essential harm reduction or had a naloxone kit? As always we try to bring you the information you need, and this issue’s cover story focuses on the much misunderstood drug ketamine (page 6). The Findings team offer a fascinating insight into a hyped-up crack epidemic (page 12), while Addaction and Blenheim share their work supporting young people (pages 8 and 16). And we’re excited to announce a new feature – the iCAAD knowledge hub. This innovative team are supporting a regular column in DDN to showcase inspiring ideas, so p lease get it touch! Claire Brown, editor Keep in touch at www.drinkanddrugsnews.com and @DDNmagazine CJ Wellings Ltd does not accept respon si bility for the accuracy of state ments made by contributors 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. DDN is an independent publication, entirely funded by advertising. Supporting organisations: Cover by StudioM1 / iStock September 2017 | drinkanddrugsnews | 3