Nearly 3,500 naloxone take-home kits have been issued
in Scotland over the past year, giving the chance
of emergency treatment for overdose that has proved to be life-saving (page 4). Since the early pilots nearly
three years ago, progress has been slow in following the evidence of success with UK-wide distribution.
Back in November 2008, David Best and colleagues rounded up the evidence from pilot projects all over
the country and argued that the biggest barriers to implementation were ambivalence, lack of policy direction
and concerns about legislation. The ACMD’s recommendation to the public health minister in June that this
WHO-approved medicine should be more widely available was a motivated step towards distribution, but our
cover story (page 8) shows there is still a way to go.
The NTA’s training programme for families and carers of drug users across England proved an effective
exercise in principle, yet naloxone remains prescription only and not commonplace in environments where an
overdose is most likely to happen. CRI services in Sefton and Brighton have demonstrated that service users
can be effectively equipped with take-home kits alongside their prescriptions, but it’s surely now time for the
law to catch up with practice and make it routinely available so it can it fulfil its life-saving potential.
FEATURES
6 NEWS FOCUS
Does a preoccupation with binge drinking mean health is being overlooked?
8 HARM REDUCTION SAVED MY LIFE
– COVER STORY
The ACMD regards naloxone as an intervention that saves lives – yet it remains prescription only.
David Gilliver hears from a service that’s calling for provision to be rolled out.
11 OBITUARY
Bill Nelles remembers friend, colleague – and former DDN columnist – Bri Edwards.
12 REAL-LIFE REPAIRS
East Coast Recovery are creating a thriving hub of community enterprise in the seaside town of
Lowestoft. DDN paid a visit
14 MEDICATIONS IN RECOVERY
An expert group has made recommendations on reorientating drug dependence treatment to fit
the recovery agenda. Its chair Professor John Strang explains.
16 BREAKING FREE
Ian Houghton describes how private prison Forest Bank is demonstrating success with its focus on
achievable recovery options and reintegration.
18 MAN OF HONOUR
David Liddell talks to David Gilliver about the challenges facing the sector north of the border.
20 QUALITY TIME
The recovery community in the East Midlands is buzzing with activity, as Vince Williams reports.
REGULARS
4 NEWS ROUND-UP
: Anthrax case in Scotland • Eastern Europe bucks declining HIV trend • Scots give out
nearly 3,500 naloxone kits • Focus alcohol policy on health • Substitute prescriptions ‘must be regularly
reviewed’, says expert group • News in brief.
7 MEDIA SAVVY
: Who’s been saying what..?
7
POLICY SCOPE
: Substance misuse is being blamed for child poverty, says Marcus Roberts.
10 POST-ITS FROM PRACTICE
: Dr Steve Brinksman takes over this month from Dr Chris Ford.
10
LETTERS
: Stigma struggle; Recovery mad.
11
LEGAL LINE
: Release solicitor Kirstie Douse answers your legal questions.
This issue: is a reader getting the right benefits?
13
FAMILY MATTERS
: Family members are too often isolated behind confidentiality, says Joss Smith.
17 ENTERPRISE CORNER
:
Use of social media in last year’s riots showed that young people need never be
hard to reach, says Amar Lodhia.
21 VOICES OF RECOVERY
:
Organisers are revving up this year’s recovery walk in Brighton, says Alistair Sinclair.
23 SOAPBOX:
Politicians are getting it wrong on alcohol strategy, says Mev Brown.
THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE: COURSES, CONFERENCES AND TENDERS
Cover Graphic: Nigel Brunsdon – http://injectingadvice.com
Editor: Claire Brown
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Revival plan
Is there any reason to delay naloxone provision?
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