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Going to the International Harm Reduction Conference
is a humbling experience. Harm reduction workers
attend from countries with drug and alcohol problems of a scale that you would think are insurmountable, yet
they come to share experiences, learn from colleagues abroad and take back practical, life-saving knowledge.
We were at the conference to produce newspapers, the
Daily Update
, for each day of the event and we’ve given
you a taster of them in this month’s issue.
This year really brought home that the harm reduction movement is a global family whose pragmatism
outweighs political posturing and the outmoded mantra of ‘just say no’. Now, more than ever, we are in a position
to appreciate that public health should be at the heart of our own drug policy. When you hear how hard it is to
get someone in Dar es Salaam past exclusion and stigmatisation to gain treatment for TB, or how harm reduction
services in Bucharest are trying to save the lives of children who are using drugs in the face of wholesale funding
cuts, you wonder how our ideology back home can ever waver – health must always come first. See all the
conference stories – as well as the latest pictures from the successful
Support. Don’t Punish
campaign – on our
website at www.drinkanddrugsnews.com.
FEATURES
6
NEWS FOCUS
Although women who use drugs and are involved in prostitution are among society’s
most vulnerable and stigmatised groups, little specialised support exists. DDN reports.
12 FAMILY FOCUSED
Ten years since
Hidden harm
, delegates gathered at the Adfam annual conference in
London to reflect on progress so far and what the future holds. Kayleigh Hutchins reports.
14 SAFE FROM HARM
Last month saw the 23rd International Harm Reduction Conference take place in Lithuania.
DDN reports on a gathering of activists, policy makers and service users from across the globe.
22 LINES OF COMMUNICATION
HRI executive director Rick Lines has been making the case for a human rights-based
approach to vulnerable populations for more than two decades. He talks to David Gilliver.
REGULARS
4
NEWS ROUND-UP
: Alcohol dependency prescriptions up three quarters in a decade •
UN highlights ‘alarming’ rise in new drugs • Glamourised ‘lifestyle’ promotions must be
banned, says Alcohol Concern • News in brief.
7
POLICY SCOPE:
Using appropriate language is an essential step in supporting women
involved in prostitution, says Marcus Roberts.
7
MEDIA SAVVY:
Who’s been saying what..?
8
NOTHING TO DECLARE
:
In the fifth part of his personal story, Mark Dempster reaches
crisis point as he realises his luck has finally run out.
8
LETTERS
:
Open letter from Dr Chris Ford to Anna Soubry MP; Response from Anna Soubry MP; Out
of touch; Volunteers spurned; Lessons in localism; Help sight loss project; Obituary: Alan Joyce.
8
OBITUARY
:
Peter McDermott and Bill Nelles pay tribute to Alan Joyce.
13 FAMILY MATTERS
:
Adfam’s conference highlighted the urgent need to understand the
impact of alcohol on the whole family, says Joss Gaynor.
THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE: COURSES, CONFERENCES AND TENDERS
Editor:
Claire Brown
t: 01233 638 528
e: claire@cjwellings.com
Assistant Editor:
Kayleigh Hutchins
t: 01233 633 315
e: kayleigh@cjwellings.com
Reporter:
David Gilliver
e: david@cjwellings.com
Advertising Manager:
Ian Ralph
t: 01233 636 188
e: ian@cjwellings.com
Designer:
Jez Tucker
e: jez@cjwellings.com
Publishing Assistant:
Annie Hobson
e: annie@cjwellings.com
Subscriptions:
t: 01233 633 315
e: subs@cjwellings.com
Website:
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
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Cover: Ian Ralph
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accuracy of statements made
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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.
July 2013 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 3
F
EDERATION OF
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RUG AND
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ROFESSIONALS
Life challenges
Harm reduction’s global reach
Published by CJ Wellings Ltd,
57 High Street, Ashford,
Kent TN24 8SG
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Editorial – Claire Brown
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