Safer together
It’s been a reactive year for the sector. Drugs – familiar, new, hard to identify – have brought treatment challenges that demand our attention. Escalating drug death figures continue to shame us. Alcohol policy still treads water. The prison system is stuck in a cycle of addiction, violence and reoffending. When an MP says the drug sector needs to speak with a clear and unified voice to policymakers, it feels frustrating.
But exploring some key initiatives – throughout this issue – reminds us that we have much of the evidence of what works. We know, for instance, that helping someone rebuild relationships, reconnect with family, and rediscover their career aspirations can have significant benefits beyond their own wellbeing and break a cycle of trauma, as well as leading to life beyond lockup.
We also have a strong and united voice on harm reduction, the call for targeted and effective education, upskilling the workforce, and reminders of the urgent need for sustained investment to stop us rolling backwards. Read our tech article, be inspired – and keep moving forward in the knowledge that your work is invaluable.
Season’s greetings to you all.
Read the December issue as an online magazine (you can also download it as a PDF from the online magazine)
Claire Brown, editor