ON THE COVER
DDN is an independent publication, entirely funded by advertising.
Publishers:
Partners:
Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals
Supporting organisations:
4
NEWS
Drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales hit an all-time high.
DDN’s round-up of local and national news.
6
COVER STORY
‘Why use a less desirable product when a preferable one is usually
available?’ AdamWinstock explores the reasons why people are
attracted to ‘risky and unpleasant’ new forms of cannabis.
9
ON THE SAFE SIDE
We mustn’t be afraid to engage with parents about sensitive
safeguarding issues, says Kevin Crowley.
10
NEWS FOCUS
DDN reports from the first pan-European, multi-disciplinary conference
on addictive behaviours.
12
RECOVERY ROUND-UP
DDN takes a look at some of the highlights from this year’s vibrant
recovery month.
14
POST-ITS FROM PRACTICE
Sometimes it’s necessary to dig a little deeper to uncover substance use,
says Dr Steve Brinksman.
October 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 3
editor’s letter
‘The peer-to-peer route is
working well to treat people
with dignity and respect’
Contents
O
ur report from the Lisbon Addictions 2015 conference looks
in depth at how science and research can translate into
policy and practice and neuroscientists spoke of the ‘many
levels of ongoing research that are essential to understanding
addiction and effective interventions’ (page 10).
So what better way of looking at the new versions of cannabis
than drawing on the experiences of 150,000 cannabis users, as
AdamWinstock did in the Global Drug Survey? The data gathered
has been used to develop peer-led harm reduction tools – and
importantly, has raised the next set of questions we need to
answer around behaviours, effects and public health (page 6).
The peer-to-peer route is also working well for the NNEF (page
16), which has created a directory of needle exchanges and a secret
shopper project to make sure those accessing services are treated
with dignity and respect.
Other observations you might find interesting from the Lisbon
Addictions Conference are that for any change in behaviour to
occur, three things had to be in place – capability, motivation and
opportunity – and that ‘spontaneous recovery was usually a
reaction to outside events’ and ‘based on a range of external
conditions’. What better way to show this than by coverage of
recovery month (page 12), an inspiring demonstration of hope,
belief and connection that shows why recovery communities are
proving so effective at improving their members’ outcomes.
Claire Brown, editor
Published by CJ Wellings Ltd,
57 High Street, Ashford,
Kent TN24 8SG
Editor: Claire Brown
t: 01233 638 528
e:
Assistant editor:
Kayleigh Hutchins
t: 01233 633 315
e:
Reporter: David Gilliver
e:
Advertising manager:
Ian Ralph
t: 01233 636 188
e:
Designer: Jez Tucker
e:
Publishing assistant:
Millie Stockwell
e:
Subscriptions:
t: 01233 633 315
e:
Keep in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter!
/DDNMagazine @DDNMagazine
Website:
Website maintained by wiredupwales.com
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
by the Manson Group Ltd
CJ Wellings Ltd does not accept responsi-
bility for the accuracy of statements made
by contributors or advertisers.
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.
Cover by Tolga TEZCAN/iStock
Reinventing cannabis, p6
