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We came back from
Seize the Day!
on a high. Many more questions had been asked than had been answered,
but everyone seemed to agree that the spirit of solidarity this year was a force to be reckoned with. The
discussions were mature and focused and the issues brought to the conference sessions deserved answers –
our coverage of the event in this issue of the magazine is just a start.
We’ve had a lot of feedback that delegates appreciated Andrew Selous MP’s undivided attention – not just
during the conference session, but afterwards, when he stayed for a long time answering questions and hearing
concerns. He said attending the conference was an education, and promised to take issues raised back to the
House of Commons. We’ll be chasing for a progress report.
More than anything, we soaked up a spirit of camaraderie among delegates and a keeness to learn from
colleagues in other areas of the country. Service user groups have greater confidence now than ever before and
this shone through, not least in the group exhibition area where there was evidence of real integration with
DAATs, services and local planning groups. All power to our service users up and down the country!
FEATURES
6
DOING IT FOR OURSELVES
Seize the Day!
, the fourth DDN/Alliance service user involvement conference
kicked off with an
inspirational look at how service user groups were achievingmaximum results withminimum funding.
8
REFORMING ZEAL
The coalition’s proposals for reforming the welfare system are nothing if not controversial. Andrew
Selous MP argued the government’s case while Niamh Eastwood of Release spelled out concerns.
10 THE BIG ASK
In the Question Time session, a panel of speakers debated five key questions posed by
DDN
readers.
12 STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
The service user group exhibition was a lively information exchange and a hub of mutual support.
14 PROFILE: FABRICE OLIVET
The head of Paris-based service user group ASUD talks to David Gilliver about stigma,
solidarity and activism and how his organisation is making wider links to survive.
16 DDN FILM AWARD... AND A RAUCOUS CAUCUS!
SUIT fromWolverhampton won the first DDN service user group film award. Sharp Liverpool’s
Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus were a hit with delegates.
17 A FEELING OF VITALITY
The National User Network (NUN) goes from strength to strength; and a selection of vox pops.
20 BEACONS OF HOPE
Last month saw the opening of Lighthouse Social Club in south London.
DDN
hears how the club
is offering a lifeline to service users form a range of sectors.
22 NEWS FOCUS
Crunch time for drug strategy implementation: what will government reforms mean in practice?
REGULARS
4
NEWS ROUND-UP
: Double alcohol investment to save billions, says charity • Youth treatment yields
major savings • Government to offer cash recovery incentives • Welfare Reform Bill sees light of day •
Poster alerts to heroin drought • News in brief
24 LETTERS
:
Responses to Neil McKeganey’s
Soapbox
; Is it all about targets?; Abandon time-waster pilots;
Innovative evaluation; The real key planners.
27 Q&A
:
Readers giveWill answers to his dilemma between professionalism to clients and loyalty to a colleague.
27 PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFING
:
Paul Hines reports from the Cross-Party Group on Drug and Alcohol
Treatment and Harm Reduction.
29 MEDIA SAVVY
:
Who’s been saying what..?
29 POST-ITS FROM PRACTICE
:
Dr Chris Ford considers what makes a good GP.
31 SOAPBOX
:
Programmes must give a better account of themselves if they expect to keep their funding,
says Professor Tim Crabbe.
CENTRE-PAGE PULL-OUT:
THE SPRING 2011 NATIONAL SERVICE USER GROUP DIRECTORY
THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE: JOBS, COURSES, CONFERENCES, TENDERS
Editor:
Claire Brown
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7 March 2011 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 3
F
EDERATION OF
D
RUG AND
A
LCOHOL
P
ROFESSIONALS
Seizing the day
Action from our fourth service user conference
Published by CJ Wellings Ltd,
Southbank House, Black Prince
Road, London SE1 7SJ
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PARTNER ORGANISATIONS:
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This issue
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DDN is an independent publication,
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SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:
Editorial – Claire Brown
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