Let’s take inspiration from collaboration!
One of the biggest changes in drug and alcohol treatment over the last few decades hasn’t been a new medication or a radically new strategy. It’s been a gradual shift in recognising that the person sitting opposite us isn’t simply the recipient of treatment – they’re an equal partner in it.
As our articles throughout this month’s issue demonstrate, the conversations that matter most are the ones where people feel listened to, respected and involved in decisions about their own care. They recognise that the expert at the heart of treatment is the person themselves.
Perhaps most importantly, shared decision-making means recognising that setbacks don’t erase progress and that treatment and recovery are rarely a straight line.
Liam’s reflections on entering treatment in the 1990s (p30) are a reminder of how far we’ve travelled – being treated with suspicion and made to feel like a problem to be managed rather than a person to be supported were once commonplace.
We can’t be complacent, but let’s take inspiration from all the great collaborative work in this issue.Â
Read the July/August issue as an online magazine (you can also download it as a PDF from the online magazine)
Please send your letters and comment to claire@cjwellings.com
Claire Brown, editor
Looking forward to seeing and hearing more of it at the DDN Conference this month!