Scottish Drugs Forum
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Presentations from SdF conferences in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 can be accessed under Presentations in the Archives section of this website.
2011
Scottish Drugs Forum AGM and Seminar Event
Prescribing to problem drug users - delivering person-centred care
Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
Tackling Drug Deaths: Putting Evidence into Action
30 March
Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
The rate of drug-related deaths in Scotland is amongst the highest in Europe.
This conference offered an opportunity to view wider UK and international perspectives and evidence to define practical means to tackle this issue.
From the potential impact of Naloxone on overdose deaths to drug deaths due to bacterial infection, blood borne viruses, suicide and other factors, this conference looked at means by which all drug-related deaths could be reduced.
You can download PDF versions of the speakers’ presentations here:
Reducing Drug Users’ Risk of Overdose: Trends and Responses - Andy Rome, Figure 8 Consultancy Services
Overview of drug-induced deaths in Europe (and a perspective in Scotland) situation and responses - Julian Vicente, João Matias, Dagmar Hedrich, Isabelle Giraudon, EMCDDA
Drugs, Co-morbidity and Suicide 2011 - Greg Burgess SAMH and Stephen Malloy SDF
Non-fatal illicit opiate drugs overdose attending A&E in North Glasgow - Karen Smart SDF
Response to Non Fatal Overdose - Lisa Ross SDF
Mandy Young - Fife Overdose Prevention Co-ordinator
Not only overdose - Drug-related deaths - what we really should know - Roy Robertson The University of Edinburgh
Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution - Sarz Maxwell MD FASAM
User Perceptions on Naloxone - SDF and National User Involvement Volunteers
Bugs and Drugs Infections associated with illegal drug use - Dr Kirsty Roy, Epidemiologist, Health Protection Scotland
Professor John Strang - National Addiction Centre
2010
Legal Highs - Where are we now?
30 September
Perth
Scotland’s first national conference on so-called ‘legal highs’ was hosted by Scottish Drugs Forum in Perth on 30 September 2010.
The conference heard from a wide range of speakers including police, service planners, frontline service and academic stakeholders.
The emerging picture of harm done by these substances has led to new harm reduction messages and to the development of online peer support.
Those working in the drugs field as well as generic services in touch with drug users and the wider community are developing means of keeping abreast of developments.
You can download the speakers’ powerpoint presentations here:
Austin Smith, Scottish Drugs Forum
Dr Paul Skett, Glasgow Expert Witness Service
Gareth Balmer, Addaction Dundee Direct Access Service
John Arthur and Katy MacLeod, CREW
Kenny Cameron, Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency
Kenny Malcolm, Incite, Aberdeenshire
John Campbell, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Legal Highs Monitoring Group
Housing, Homelessness and Substance Misuse: developing effective responses
Glasgow
This event launched important recommendations by the Homelessness and Substance Misuse Advisory Group on the design and delivery of effective services which prevent homelessness and address substance use.
- download the
conference programme here
- download the recommendations in
Effective Services for Substance Misuse and Homelessness in Scotland: The recommendations of the Advisory Group on Homelessness and Substance Misuse (PDF 339kb).
- see a
brief summary of the recommendations.
You can also download the speakers’ powerpoint presentations here:
Alex Roomer, Irisz Org, Holland
Amy Hutton, Safe Space
Dundee Families Project
Ian Irvine, Turning Point Scotland
Peter Juul, Danish Model
Sean Cussen, GEAAP
Val Holtom, Advisory Group
2009
Responding to the needs of the “Trainspotting Generation” – An Ageing Problem
Glasgow
recent drug death statistics showing the scale of mortality among the so-called “Trainspotting Generation”.Nina Kuplewatzky, European Senior Drug Dependents Project, Frankfurt
April Shaw, Scottish Drugs Forum
Austin Smith, Scottish Drugs Forum
Dr Caryl Benyon, Liverpool John Moores University
Dr Alex Baldacchino, NHS Fife Addiction Services
Biba Brand, Scottish Drugs Forum
Dr Muriel Simonte, Spittal Street Centre, Edinburgh
Drugs and Criminal Justice in Scotland
Paul Morron, SACRO
Brian Cole, Scottish Government
Val Lawrie, Edinburgh, Mid and East Lothian DTTO
Keith Chalmers, Glasgow Addiction Services
Marnie Hodge, Turning Point Scotland
Dr Lucy Cockayne, NHS Fife
Drugs, alcohol, housing and homelessness – developing good practice - A one day Training and Seminar event
Glasgow: 23 March 2009
Edinburgh: 31 March 2009
- all unintentionally homeless people will be entitled to settled accommodation by 2012
- provision of a holistic individually-tailored approach to drugs treatment, with wider social support and a strong focus on recovery
- increased emphasis on tackling problematic alcohol use.
Effective joint working in the linked areas of drug and alcohol treatment, housing access and supply and preventing homelessness is crucial to successfully achieving this ambitious objective. This event aims to encourage the development of a co-ordinated approach and good quality partnership working to enable agencies and staff to meet the challenges of effectively delivering on these cross-cutting issues.
- preventing and responding to drugs overdose
- drugs – what you need to know
- housing and homelessness issues – what drug workers need to know
The afternoon seminar session featured:
- recent Scottish Government–commissioned research on substance use problems and homelessness
- an opportunity to hear what service users want from services
- workshops to explore issues, views and ideas for practice development
Click to download PowerPoint presentations:
SDF User Involvement Group
Sue Irving, Independent Consultant
Scottish Drug Trends Seminar
27 March
Stirling Royal Infirmary
Scottish Drugs Forum hosted this seminar in partnership with Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Alcohol and Drug Misuse Group; The Information and Statistics Division, Health Protection Scotland and Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams in order to present the most up-to-date picture of drug problems in Scotland.
Aimed at frontline practitioners and policymakers, this event covered:
- Trends from frontline services in Scotland
- Latest evidence on injecting behaviour
- New and emerging issues among users not in services – including a focus on the cocaine/alcohol mix
- The police perspective on what’s happening
- Drugs and Alcohol in the Emergency Department
- Trends among drug users engaged with the criminal justice system – in community and prison settings.
This event, chaired by former Scottish Drugs Minister, Richard Simpson, MSP, brought together a range of experts to provide invaluable insight on the latest evidence for professionals as they rise to the challenge of the new Scottish Drugs Strategy – and its focus on placing the needs of problem drug users at the heart of service planning and delivery.
Click to download speakers' PowerPoint presentations:
Richard Simpson, MSP, Chair - Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Alcohol and Drug Misuse
April Shaw, Scottish Drugs Forum
Anthea Springbett, Substance Misuse Team, ISD Scotland
Supt. Willie MacColl, Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency
Sam Perry, A & E Consultant, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board
Norah Palmateer, Health Protection Scotland
John Campbell, Scottish Drugs Forum
Lorna Murray, Aberdeen Criminal Justice Drug Services
Stephen Heller-Murphy, Scottish Prison Service
Meg Wright, Glasgow Council on Alcohol
John Arthur, CREW
2008
Drug Users and stigma: a one-day conference
Glasgow
Stigma: a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's ‘reputation’
Scottish Drugs Forum hosted this one day conference to explore the nature and impact of stigma as it affects people who have a drugs problem.
The effects of stigma are a daily reality for many people closely affected by a drug problem in Scotland. Drug users, their families and friends are frequently marginalised and blamed by large sections of society for a range of social ills.
This can pave the way for the proposal and development of policies and practice which would not be tolerated for other disadvantaged groups.
With recovery a central plank of the Scottish Government’s new drug strategy, it is vital that we address stigma on many levels which result in, for example:
• Institutional stigma - policies, culture and ways of working that impede recovery
• Language and public debate which reduce a person to ‘the addict’
• Continuing damage to neighbourhood cohesion.
Key topics for discussion included:
• How does stigma manifest itself?
• How do policies, services and wider attitudes reduce or exacerbate it?
• The impact on people and their families
• What steps can be taken to remove or lessen stigma?
Click to download speakers' PowerPoint presentations:
Professor Julian Buchanan, Social Inclusion Research Unit, University of Wales (6502kb)
Dr Oliver Aldridge, Drug Treatment & Testing Order (Edinburgh, Mid & East Lothian) (2939kb)
User Involvement Groups, Scottish Drugs Forum (150kb)
Elizabeth Allan, Institute of Applied Social & Health Research, University of the West of Scotland (271kb)
Austin Smith, Glasgow Homelessness Network (28kb)
Irene Campbell, Ayrshire and Arran Drug and Alcohol Action Team (174kb)