HOTTER THAN JULY – JOBS, NEWS AND VIEWS www.drinkanddrugsnews.com ISSN 1755-6236 August 2013 ‘It is a project that is consistent with the practice and principles of harm reduction, and its street-based focus provides culturally relevant opportunities for interaction and communication...’ OUTREACH WORK GETS MODERN INNOVATIVE NEEDLE EXCHANGE ON THE STREETS OF DUBLIN NEWS FOCUS A VISION TO SERVE PROFILE The government is shelving How to maintain a focus on Green Party MP Caroline Lucas plans for minimum pricing. the individual in the new tells DDN why current drug What happens next? p6 treatment landscape p12 policy is flawed p16 Editorial – Claire Brown Published by CJ Wellings Ltd, 57 High Street, Ashford, Kent TN24 8SG Editor: Claire Brown t: 01233 638 528 e: [email protected] Keep innovating Assistant Editor: Kayleigh Hutchins We want to share your good ideas t: 01233 633 315 e: [email protected] This month’s cover story (page 8) documents a logical approach to something that should be straightforward, Reporter: David Gilliver e: [email protected] but so often isn’t. How often do services wait for clients to come knocking when they’re hardly likely to? True Advertising Manager: outreach means seeking out the people most in need of services and literally reaching out to them, while being Ian Ralph t: 01233 636 188 mindful of every aspect of their dignity. Seeing evidence of the Ana Liffey Project’s work on the streets of Dublin e: [email protected] impressed Stephen Parkin enough to find out more, and to think about how such logical, street-based harm Designer: Jez Tucker e: [email protected] reduction initiatives could be transplanted elsewhere. ‘All our staff are very client focused – we’re constantly Publishing Assistant: seeking new ways to reach marginalised clients,’ says the project’s director, Tony Duffin, and it’s this constant Annie Hobson quest for innovation that’s so relevant. e: [email protected] With this in mind, we’d like to invite your contributions to our new ‘good practice exchange’, to be featured in Subscriptions: t: 01233 633 315 the magazine and on our website. Do you have a successful initiative that you’d like to share with other readers – e: [email protected] maybe a familiar area of practice that you've approached a little differently or with a certain flair, or an innovative Website: www.drinkanddrugsnews.com twist that’s worked particularly well for you? We all spend too long reinventing the wheel – please share your Website maintained by wiredupwales.com ideas with us. You might just spark a new initiative elsewhere in the country. Printed on environmentally friendly paper by the Manson Group Ltd Cover: Ian Ralph This issue CJ Wellings Ltd does not accept re spon si bility for the FEATURES accuracy of state ments made by contributors or advertisers. The contents of this magazine 6 NEWS FOCUS are the copyright of CJ Wellings Is minimum unit pricing for alcohol dead in the water, asks DDN. Ltd, but do not necess arily represent its views, or those of 8 GETTING STREETWISE its partner organisations. Stephen Parkin describes why he was so impressed by The Ana Liffey Project’s innovative street-based outreach work in Dublin. DDN is an independent publication, entirely funded by advertising. 12 A VISION TO SERVE PUBLISHERS: The importance of the individual in the new public health landscape was one of the themes p8 discussed at the London Drug and Alcohol Policy Forum’s recent event. DDN reports. 14 A CASE FOR E-CIGARETTES If electronic cigarettes can save lives, why are we stalling on a PARTNER ORGANISATIONS : public health breakthrough, asks Professor Gerry Stimson. 16 GREEN ZONE The government should acknowledge that ‘current policy is flawed’, says MP Caroline Lucas. FEDERATION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROFESSIONALS 18 PRESCRIPTION FOR ACTION SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS : At a recent parliamentary debate, ADS brought together experts to tackle the pervasive problem of addiction to prescription drugs. Tom Whiting reports. 19 MAKING RECOVERY VISIBLE Thousands will gather for the fifth UK recovery walk in September, says Richard Maunders. p14 REGULARS 4 NEWS ROUND-UP : Minimum pricing ‘will not be taken forward’ • Government consults on proposals for new drug-driving offences • PMA in ecstasy tablets warning • News in brief. 7 POST-ITS FROM PRACTICE: All GPs should see involvement in drug and alcohol treatment as the norm, says Dr Steve Brinksman. 7 MEDIA SAVVY: Who’s been saying what..? 10 LETTERS : False dichotomy; Self-help salvation; 35 years strong; Help the aged; How lucky we are. 11 SKILLS UPDATE : What’s the latest on professional training? Nadine Singh explains the DANOS review. 13 ENTERPRISE CORNER : Turn life’s adversities into business opportunities, says Amar Lodhia. 17 NOTHING TO DECLARE : Mark Dempster’s final installment sees him experience an unlikely epiphany. 20 SOAPBOX : Our commissioning processes are unacceptably poor, says John Jolly. p16 THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE: COURSES, CONFERENCES AND TENDERS www.drinkanddrugsnews.com August 2013 | drinkanddrugsnews | 3 News | Round-up NEWS IN BRIEF Minimum pricing ‘will NOT FOILED AGAIN The government has accepted the ACMD’s advice to allow for the provision not be taken forward’ of foil by treatment providers ‘subject to the strict condition that it is part of Minimum unit pricing will ‘not be taken forward at structured efforts to get people into this moment’, the government has announced in a treatment and off drugs’, home secretary statement on the outcome of its alcohol strategy Theresa May has announced. The consultation. There will also be no ban on multi-buy government would also introduce promotions. mechanisms to monitor take-up and There was not enough ‘concrete evidence’ that adherence to conditions, she said. ‘The minimum pricing would help reduce alcohol harm without provision of foil in needle exchange and penalising responsible drinkers, crime prevention minister drug treatment services can contribute to Jeremy Browne told MPs. However alcohol sales below a reduction in drug injecting and the level of alcohol duty plus VAT would be banned from associated health risks, such as next spring, meaning it would no longer be legal to sell a exposure to blood born viruses, vein collapse and overdose,’ said DrugScope can of lager ‘for less than about 40 pence’. chief executive Martin Barnes. ‘Support There was also ‘a lack of convincing evidence’ that a that enables heroin and other drug users ban on multi-buy promotions would have a significant to reduce the risks to themselves and effect on reducing consumption, he said, adding that its others can be the catalyst for engaging introduction would be unreasonable ‘at a time when with treatment and support for recovery.’ responsible families are trying hard to balance their household budgets’. HEP C HELP The government would tackle irresponsible A free, confidential helpline for prisoners promotions by making mandatory licensing conditions has been launched by the Hepatitis C more effective, he stated, and promote responsible Trust. The helpline, which will be open drinking by ‘raising customer awareness of the five days a week on 0800 999 2052, availability of small servings’. It would also work with allows the trust to ‘reach out to a highly ‘high harm local alcohol action areas’ to improve affected population’, said head of patient enforcement, strengthen partnerships and ‘increase good ‘Not enough concrete support services, Samantha May. ‘What practice of what works locally’. we offer is the facility for prisoners to The alcohol industry now had ‘an opportunity to evidence that mini - speak with their peers who can demonstrate what more it can do to reduce harms empathise with the stigmatisation that associated with problem drinking’, he continued. ‘We mum pricing would someone can face when they have the want fair and effective policies,’ he said. ‘We are not in virus,’ she said. ‘We can answer their the business of making laws that do not work.’ questions and tell it like it is.’ The trust The statement was instantly welcomed by industry help reduce alcohol has also produced a new briefing for bodies. British Beer and Pub Association chief executive London’s health and wellbeing boards Brigid Simmonds said that the decision not to ban multi- harm without which urges local authorities to improve buy promotions recognised ‘the lack of evidence that this commissioning, promote testing and encourages over-consumption, rather than providing penal is ing respon - encourage training. Councils had an value and convenience for shoppers’, while Portman ‘unprecedented opportunity’, said trust Group chief executive Henry Ashworth said that ‘through chief executive Charles Gore. ‘If we a series of voluntary pledges aimed at improving public sible drinkers.’ diagnose and treat those infected, we health, the industry has proven itself to be committed could virtually eradicate the virus within a and willing partners and welcomes the opportunity to Jeremy Browne, MP generation.’ Reducing health inequalities continue this successful approach going forward.’ in London by addressing hepatitis C at The industry’s win, however, was a ‘grave loss for the responsibility deal alcohol network, along with network www.hepctrust.org.uk public health of the nation’, said Alcohol Concern chief co-chair Dr Nick Sheron, head of clinical hepatology at executive Eric Appleby. ‘The alcohol industry must be the University of Southampton. ‘Talk of “punishing the GET NETWORKING congratulating themselves on their success at lobbying hard worker” who can afford few other pleasures than a A new website has been launched by the government to bin minimum unit pricing.’ pint of mild is a red herring,’ said a joint statement. ‘It is Alcohol Health Network to help reduce Abandoning the plans amounted to a public health our most deprived communities who pay the highest alcohol-related harm in workplaces and ‘catastrophe’, he said.