Basic HTML Version
FILM LOUNGE
Some delegates sent films made by their
organisations, which were shown during breaks
Into The Drink
Funded by a £2,000 grant to Nottingham based housing charity NLG, this 20-
minute film was created to raise awareness of the effects of alcoholism. With
hard-hitting interviews from those who have been addicted, suffered medical
difficulties and whose relatives have been affected by alcohol, the film was
made to illustrate the seriousness of the problem and demonstrate that help
can be found in the right places.
Fears, Myths and Structure
A film put together by Pierpoint, this short piece demonstrates the 12-step
programme from a service user perspective. Myths are challenged while common
fears about entering a 12-step programme are addressed by people who have
gone through the process themselves. After a series of quick-fire questions about
the facility and the approaches taken ('Why do they take your mobile phone
away?' 'Is there a gym?'), the film goes further into the stages of the programme
and what they mean to those who have experienced it – such as the difference
between spirituality and religion. A good insight into deconstructing the myths
and demonstrating the structure of Pierpoint's successful programme.
A Cup of Chocolate
Cumbria Drug and Alcohol Action Team made
A Cup of Chocolate
(pictured
above) to present at a Carlisle event in June 2009. Its light-hearted approach
makes difficult issues surrounding substance misuse more accessible to a wider
audience, with drugs substituted for chocolate in the film. Whether it’s
chocolate buttons being melted on a spoon with a lighter, or chopped out on a
mirror with a razor blade, the film has an interesting take on drug misuse.
A Journey Forward to Where You Want to Be
South Lancashire Young Addaction's short film demonstrates how the agency
has helped young people with their addictions. Young Addaction work
predominantly with 14 to 17-year-olds with alcohol and drug problems, and the
film shows how they have guided young people through their problems by
identifying and talking through issues, working at a pace that suits the
individual.
For more information on how to get hold of these films please email
films@cjwellings.com
12 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 1 March 2010
Right here, right now! |
Workshops and films
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
Train to save a life
There is no good reason not to get trained in
preventing overdose with this life-saving drug, said Dr
Chris Ford and Danny Morris at their workshop on
naloxone training
Two thirds of witnessed overdose deaths could be prevented through basic life
support and administering naloxone, said Dr Chris Ford and trainer Danny Morris,
at their workshop on training and use of the overdose-preventing drug.
This ‘very safe’ antidote drug, given intravenously or intramuscularly, would
temporarily reverse the effects of heroin and other opioid drugs, they explained,
working to quickly reverse the effects of overdose and allowing the person to
start breathing again and regain consciousness.
Naloxone is carried by ambulance crews and available as a prescription-only
medicine in a range of formats, including ampoules, pre-filled syringes and
‘minijet’ preparations. Following a change in the law in 2005, it became legal for
Awareness, ad
Get yourselves connected
Advocacy services promote social inclusion and social
justice as well as improving treatment, Daren Garratt
and Ursula Brown tell delegates
‘Real strength and real work happens when local people get together,’ executive
director of The Alliance, Daren Garratt, told the workshop
Setting up an advocacy
service – how to do it, why you need one and what your expectations should be.
Advocacy promoted social inclusion and social justice, he said. ‘It’s about looking
at the evidence base – at what’s best for that person – and supporting them to
get what they want.’
Independent advocacy services had been developed to help service users
take charge of their treatment journey. ‘This isn’t generic advocacy,’ he stressed.
‘It’s a specialism around drug and alcohol treatment. If you’re going to provide an
advocacy service, it’s important to own what you know – if you don’t know it, for
God’s sake don’t advocate on it.’ For this reason it was essential to develop
effective networks, he said, working with other professionals such as those in
child protection.
So why were advocacy services important? They led to better information and
support, which in turn led to better treatment outcomes, he said. They also
encouraged stability, helped cut acquisitive crime rates and offered the prospect
of a return to work. ‘People often think it’s adversarial, but it’s important to work
positively with providers,’ he said – this made it much easier to highlight the
limitations of services. ‘If commissioners don’t know where the system’s
breaking down, how are they going to fix it?’
National services could not replicate local knowledge, Alliance deputy director
Ursula Brown told the workshop. ‘Different communities have different needs and
priorities, and local advocacy services can build relationships and mutual
respect.’ They could also communicate with service providers, GPs and statutory
bodies about individual cases, she said.