Scottish Drugs Forum
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5 December 2006
THERE are depressing indications of a return to a more punitive climate of opinion on issues relating to drug-related harm in Scotland and the emergence of a “recovery impatience” culture, Anne Thomson, the Chair of Scottish Drugs Forum has warned.
High-profile calls for people to move quickly to a drug-free lifestyle are proliferating - but those making the calls are meanwhile denying the significance of factors such as low income and life in neglected communities which make rapid achievement to a drug-free life impossible for the majority, Ms Thomson says in Scottish Drugs Forum’s latest Annual Report, published today.
There is an “increasingly evident trend of locating the blame – and solutions – for deep-rooted social problems wholly at the door of individuals,” says Ms Thomson.
“Too many appear to avoid recognising the massive role played by our response to issues much wider than drugs – global economics, post-industrial decline and unemployment – in creating the conditions which allow issues such as problematic drug use to prevail.
“We are now seeing the emergence of a culture of “recovery impatience”: the demand for people to move quickly to a drug-free lifestyle while denying the significance of other factors – such as low income and life in neglected communities – which make rapid achievement to a drug-free life impossible for the majority,” she said.
“The combination of totally unrealistic expectations, along with the demonisation of drug users, is having a trickle-down effect on practice, with “firmer” responses becoming more acceptable.
“We are in danger of harking back to the days when those seeking treatment were labelled as feckless and chaotic, deemed as having given up their right to be involved in their own treatment or to be treated with the dignity, respect and quality of care afforded other vulnerable groups in society.”
Ms Thomson said that the external debate on the drugs response in Scotland had been characterised by “continuing and very determined” attempts to polarise discussion on the drugs response in Scotland to one of abstinence versus harm reduction.
“This distracts from an important issue – the need for a full range of services which are accessible to people where and when they need it – and does a great disservice to those either seeking help or working very hard in frontline services.
“Even more alarmingly, the narrow focus of this manufactured debate has also given unjustifiable succour to the increasingly evident trend of locating the blame – and solutions – for deep-rooted social problems wholly at the door of individuals.”
Although there had been important progress made in Scotland – such as the launch of national quality standards for drug and alcohol treatment - the current overall sense is one of defending advances already made, rather than forging ahead with innovative practice.
“There are early signs of a small but potentially significant rise in HIV rates among injectors being seen in Scotland, England and Ireland – an indication of the danger which lies ahead if we return to the woefully ineffective “Just Say No” battle cries of yesteryear.
“What is desperately needed is a little more light and a little less heat on the subject, although this may well be a forlorn hope as the political stakes increase in the run up to the Holyrood elections in 2007. We can but hope otherwise,” she said.
Click here to read Scottish Drugs Forum's Annual Report 2005/2006.
4 December 2006
A PRE-Christmas information campaign to prevent drug-related deaths among users during the high-risk festive holiday period in Glasgow is being launched today in conjunction with Scottish Drugs Forum.
The aim is to raise awareness among drug users of the heightened risks of overdose and death over the holiday period when many services are closed and users may be feeling more vulnerable.
The NHS Greater Glasgow area – which includes Glasgow City’s 10,000-12,000 problem drug users, the highest of any local authority area in Scotland – had 80 drug deaths in 2005, the lowest number since 1997, and work continues to reduce the number of drug related fatalities.
The campaign - which will cost £8000 and is being funded by Glasgow Addiction Services Partnership - will focus on preventing deaths through a package of information measures which be launched today. Today’s event will:
Graham Mackintosh, Scottish Drugs Forum’s Critical Incidents Training Officer, said:
“It’s well recognised in the drugs sector that the festive holiday period brings a higher risk of death through overdose among problem drug users. Many services will have restricted opening hours and users will find themselves temporarily cut off from sources of treatment and support at what can be, for many people and not just drug users, a particularly difficult time.
“This can lead to depression, stress or isolation, which means they may be more tempted to take drugs, which could lead to accidental overdose. This kind of fatal overdose prevention work is important because research published by the Scottish Executive last year (2005) showed it was too late to save many people from dying by the time the ambulance arrived.
“This campaign builds on the work we do during the year and is simple, inexpensive and gives the kind of information most needed by users, their families and friends and those who work with them.”
Neil Hunter, Joint General Manager of the Glasgow Addiction Services Partnership, said:
“Glasgow has a long-established plan of action to reduce drug deaths and this initiative will help focus attention on an important issue over the festive period.
“We have found the Christmas and New Year period is often a difficult time for those with drug problems and anything that can provide assistance has to be highly valued.
“Scottish Drugs Forum has to be applauded for its innovative approach to passing on critical information and we are extremely pleased with its work.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Drugs Forum’s pioneering Critical Incidents Training programme - which trains drug users, their families and “the trainers” in preventing overdoses - has surpassed its training targets for the second year of its three-year funding cycle.
SDF Critical Incidents Training Officer Graham Mackintosh has delivered 109 training sessions to more than 600 people since he was appointed to the specially-created Scottish Executive-funded post in October 2004.
SDF is a member of the Scottish Executive’s National Forum on Drug-related Deaths, which was set up in the wake of the launch in August 2005 of the national Action Plan to Reduce Drug-related Deaths in Scotland.