Scottish Drugs Forum
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29 November
Glasgow
METHADONE has become a metaphor for Scotland's drug problem and much of what is good and poor in terms of our response.
With the recent Scottish Government review confirming methadone as an important element within the repertoire of approaches to drug treatment in Scotland, the key focus now is on that all-important ingredient too often missing from current drug strategy – 'wraparound'/comprehensive support.
It is overwhelmingly accepted that effective care of drug users and community reintegration has to move the emphasis beyond drug prescribing to include adequate aftercare and access to education, family, psychological, training, housing and wider medical support, including bloodborne virus services.
Yet while limited – and some would say, faltering - progress has been made through initiatives such as the New Futures Fund, many believe much more could be done to improve the wide range of opportunities required by drug users within local communities through regional partnerships, alliances and local agencies working at ground level.
Key topics for discussion included:
Speakers were (click to download):
Biba Brand, SDF, West of Scotland Regional Manager (411kb)
Service User Perspective (345kb)
Brian Doherty, Glasgow Simon Community (74kb)
Andrew Horne, Operations Manager (Scotland) Addaction (137kb)
Catriona Gibson, SDF, Co-ordinator, Addiction Workers Training Project (546kb)
Dr Oliver Aldridge, NHS Lothian and Lothian DTTO (2,961kb)
Bruce Thomson, Assistant Director, Aberlour Childcare Trust (635kb)