News

May 28, 2013: CREDENTIALLED ‘LIVED EXPERIENCE’ – AN OXYMORON?
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Peer support, recognition of the value of people sharing lived experience with others, has saved countless lives and is experiencing great renewed interest from public-health officials across the globe. Kristie Schmiege elevates it further. Print-friendly version: Download AddictionToday142 - Credential...

April 29, 2013: JOIN THE LARGEST DRUG/ALCOHOL-RECOVERY CONFERENCE IN EUROPE:
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9, 10, 11 MAY 2013 Over 60 worldclass experts in how to recover from addiction will share their knowledge and expertise with attendees at over 40 presentations. UKESAD is the only training event in the UK and Europe which has...

March 12, 2013: Addiction to crime: Huffington Post
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The recent Addiction Today article on addiction to crime has been picked up by the Huffington Post and its millions of readers - read today. (Addiction Today ed: Deirdre Boyd)

March 4, 2013: DRUG TESTING: LATEST TRENDS
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Drug testing has returned to the news recently – but how up to date are you? What drugs are most commonly found in the workplace? What are the three major technological developments in drug testing? What is the law about...

January 29, 2013: DRUG-RELATED DEATHS: A DIFFERENT WAY OF COUNTING MEANS NO COMPARISONS CAN BE MADE TO THE PAST
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“Figures quoted in the [November 2012] Addiction Today article, The NTA annual report dossier, give the impression that drug-related deaths increased significantly over the last decade. In fact, deaths due to drug misuse in England declined, from 1,510 in 2000...

January 19, 2013: WHAT CHALLENGES MUST RECOVERY PROVIDERS PREPARE FOR IN 2013?
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High hopes raised by the Drug Policy 2010 have been dashed in implementation, rehabs are closing – and commissioning is changing with localism, Public Health England, Health & Wellbeing Boards, GP commissioning, Police & Crime Commissioners, Payment by Results... Starting...

January 19, 2013: WHAT CHALLENGES MUST RECOVERY PROVIDERS PREPARE FOR IN 2013?
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High hopes raised by the Drug Policy 2010 have been dashed in implementation, rehabs are closing – and commissioning is changing with localism, Public Health England, Health & Wellbeing Boards, GP commissioning, Police & Crime Commissioners, Payment by Results... Deirdre...

January 19, 2013: WHAT CHALLENGES MUST RECOVERY PROVIDERS PREPARE FOR IN 2013?
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High hopes raised by the Drug Policy 2010 have been dashed in implementation, rehabs are closing – and commissioning is changing with localism, Public Health England, Health & Wellbeing Boards, GP commissioning, Police & Crime Commissioners, Payment by Results... Tessa...

January 19, 2013: WHAT CHALLENGES MUST WE PREPARE FOR IN 2013?
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High hopes raised by the Drug Policy 2010 have been dashed in implementation, rehabs are closing – and commissioning is changing with localism, Public Health England, Health & Wellbeing Boards, GP commissioning, Police & Crime Commissioners, Payment by Results... Laura...

November 26, 2012: FACES AND VOICES OF RECOVERY
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Recovery coaching, recovery community organisations, and programmes providing peer-recovery support services are beginning to take shape here in the UK. We chat with pioneer Tom Hill to pick the best ideas and campaigns. Print-friendly version: Download AddictionToday139 - Faces &...

November 20, 2012: THE NTA ANNUAL-REPORT DOSSSIER
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The final annual report from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse paints a colourful picture. Deirdre Boyd translates the wording to bring readers a clearer view of reality so that future decisions are not based on flawed foundations. Print-friendly...

November 16, 2012: SILENT VOICES: SUPPORT CHILDREN
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AFFECTED BY PARENTAL SUBSTANCE MISUSE Children’s commissioner Dr Maggie Atkinson has published a report on how children are affected by their parents’ heavy drinking, and urges that its vital recommendations be acted on before they lose their childhoods. Print-friendly version:...

September 25, 2012: EURAD NEWS
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by secretary general Fay Watson Earlier this summer, we were very pleased to announce that the Addiction Recovery Foundation, the charity which publishes Addiction Today journal, had become an affiliate of Europe Against Drugs. This is an important collaboration for...

September 17, 2012: NTA REHAB REPORT: FIRST 26 QUESTIONS
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... WHICH MUST BE ANSWERED TO STOP BUILDING ON QUICKSAND For government and local authorities to spend taxpayer money wisely, they must have accurate facts on which to base decisions. But Addiction Today has been contacted by providers disagreeing with...

September 15, 2012: COALITION'S DRUGS LEGACY...
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...IS UNLIKELY TO BE RECOVERY by Kathy Gyngell* of the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank No one in their right mind would give an alcoholic alcohol to cure their addiction. Yet this approach has been used to treat drug addiction...

August 9, 2012: RECOVERY WALK 18 AUGUST
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QUAY TO RECOVERY, PLYMOUTH Plymouth drug and alcohol charity Broadreach House, in partnership with Plymouth Service Users’ Representative Forum, is holding the first South West Recovery Walk on Saturday 18 August. It is short notice so move quickly! Broadreach CEO...

July 20, 2012: WINSTON CHURCHILL TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP
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In the July Addiction Today journal, columnist Laura Graham counts the benefits of the Winston Churchill travelling scholarships. Apply before 2 October! Download AddictionToday137-LLLL-Travelling scholarship-pharma commissioning The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust offers an amazing learning opportunity for our field! The...

July 19, 2012: DRINK GUIDELINES: CUT LIMITS, SAVE LIVES
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In March, the government announced a review of drinking guidelines for the first time in 15 years – since when the BBC and other media highlighted research showing that about 4,600 lives in England could be saved each year by...

July 8, 2012: ADDICTION TO PRESCRIBED DRUGS:
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SURVEY INDICATES ONLY FIVE AREAS PROVIDE HELP The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction has published a survey on the number of services which can detox patients from such addiction – the lack of which contradicts National Treatment Agency...

May 8, 2012: APPLY FOR A ‘BURSARY’ TO A TOP REHAB CENTRE
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Do you know someone who is... Under 25... Addicted to methadone... To the point that it is destroying their life... Who wants to quit drugs altogether and control their addiction... And change their life forever... But cannot afford to go...

April 23, 2012: SIGN GARY TOPLEY'S PETITION
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"Multiple Award Winner Gets Snubbed By National Treatment Agency (NTA) And County (DAAT) But Supported By Overseas Organisation," goes Gary Topley's petition headline. He asks that you click through and sign it; as a benefit, you get to read the...

February 1, 2012: ARF REPRESENTS THE UK IN EUROPEAN MUTUAL-AID NETWORK OF OVER 1MILLION PEOPLE
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After months of liaison, Addiction Recovery Foundation ambassador-at-large Laura Graham went to Brussels in January to meet with the Board of EMNA, the European Mutual-Help Network for Alcohol Related Problems. Their meeting concluded in success, achieving the final step of...

November 21, 2011: REHABS - NOVEMBER 2011 SNAPSHOT
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On 7 November 2011 with a deadline of 11 November 2011, Concordat members were emailed the question “How could/does NDTMS* artificially lower your successful completion rates?”. The overwhelming trend was patients waiting too long for referrals to rehab, during which...

November 21, 2011: THE STATE OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT IN ENGLAND
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Patients are arriving at rehab to quit their addictions far sicker, frailer and more physically damaged (than less than five years ago), according to a report commissioned by the Addiction Recovery Foundation and completed by members of the Concordat of...

October 31, 2011: LIES, DAMN LIES AND STATISTICS:
Comments: 1 | Categories: News , Policies, legislation
TREATING PEOPLE AS PAWNS Everyone involved in the treatment of addiction must know what works and what does not so that they can follow the best course of action for themselves, their patients, families, community and society. We all deserve...

October 30, 2011: THE LATEST DEFINITION OF ADDICTION
Comments: 1 | Categories: Medical , News
The American Society of Addiction Medicine has released a new definition of addiction, highlighting that it is a chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioural problem involving too much alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex. Four years of work with...

October 30, 2011: CONCORDAT WATCHDOG LAUNCHES IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
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To help implement the Drug Policy goal of getting more addicts into drug-free sustainable recovery -- and raise the number managing to get a referral to drug-free rehab from the current 2% to 10% of those 'in the system --...

October 30, 2011: CONCORDAT GRADUATES LAUNCH IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
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With only 2% of registered drug users getting the opportunity to benefit from residential rehab, the Concordat of rehabs formed in February to raise this number to at least 10% in the next few years. But the best ‘voice’ for...

September 13, 2011: WATCHDOG LAUNCHED FOR LOCAL COMMISSIONING
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REHABS PREPARE TO NAME AND SHAME LOCAL HEALTH AND COUNCIL CHIEFS - IF REASONABLE, PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS FAIL - IF PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS IGNORED http://theconcordat.net/2011/09/concordat-watchdog-process/ The Concordat watchdog is officially launching on 14 September in the House of Commons. The event is...

September 5, 2011: ESTABLISHMENT OF A ‘WATCHDOG’ FUNCTION FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT COMMISSIONING
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The coalition government has articulated a clear policy for the reform of the drug- and alcohol-treatment sector to make it less bureaucratic, and more focused on producing outcomes in terms of individuals’ recovery from addiction. There are real concerns about...