ON THE COVER
DDN is an independent publication, entirely funded by advertising.
Publishers:
Partners:
Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals
Supporting organisations:
4
NEWS
Treatment threatened by constant re-procurement, warns ACMD.
DDN’s round-up of local and national news.
6
COVER STORY
‘Talk of “harm reduction” is increasingly taboo – and completely absent
from government communications.’ Is drug treatment being derailed
by the sector’s refusal to push for reform?
11
HOUSING
Karen Biggs makes the case for specialist recovery housing as a pathway
to long-term recovery.
12
CHALLENGES
‘The bulk of what happens in recovery actually happens outside of
services – outside the formal treatment system.’ Can an entrepreneurial
recovery culture overtake an ailing treatment system?
15
PRACTICE EXCHANGE
Supporting vulnerable women in east London.
16
PROFILE
‘Music and drama and dance are often seen simply as ways of filling
residents’ time.’ Rowdy Yates on the value of therapeutic communities.
November 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 3
editor’s letter
‘There’s hope... if we can leave
behindmassaged targets and
management speak’
Contents
H
as the field lost its voice? Are we avoiding the drug reform
debate and unable to take a position, despite the increase
in overdose deaths and a critical need for service user
equality?
Ian Sherwood is vocal that we are losing the plot (page 6) and
frustrated that the sector is letting ‘almost everyone else’ lead the
debate: ‘Between those in recovery and those who provide
treatment, care and support, there is a tremendous expertise that
could articulate a way forward that is broad-based, constructive
and reformist,’ he urges.
Meanwhile on page 12, Mark Gilman, Peter McDermott and
Peter Sheath want us to look at which parts of the drug and
alcohol system work and which are failing. They ask some
challenging questions and don’t gloss over the bleak landscape of
contracting resources, but do they offer hope – if we can leave
behind a world of massaged targets and management speak, and
learn to measure ‘real’ outcomes such as jobs, houses and friends.
Talking of real outcomes, Phoenix Futures has launched a five-
stage pathway to building recovery-friendly communities that
looks for safe and secure options to counter the stresses on the
housing rental market. Can the partnerships (and the listening
ears) be found to make the model work across the country?
There’s plenty in this issue to provoke thought. So why not get
the ball rolling by emailing your reactions?
Claire Brown, editor
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Service reform, p6
