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Speaker presentations
[…] drug and alcohol services in Wales, and one of the first services to provide needle syringe exchange and computerised methadone dispensing. The organisation has always had a commitment to harm reduction and developing a range of services throughout Wales, and Martin is a fervent advocate of effective drugs education. Rondine Molinaro is Service Manager at Kaleidoscope. How a […]
Exporting the disease
[…] this was not reflected in scientific reports, as the Danes never really took the issue of ‘recovery’ that seriously. On the other hand, what you would call harm reduction measures were from early on introduced and maintained in Denmark. Many Danes, once seriously addicted to drugs, are in good job positions today, as we grew […]
Innovation & Implementation Manager
[…] and Coordinators, and oversee key projects including: Liver Health Peer Support, improving early detection and surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Peer-led Needle and Syringe Provision (NSP) and wider harm reduction initiatives. You’ll manage project delivery, build strong partnerships, monitor outcomes, and share learning nationally to shape future approaches. About you We’re looking for someone who: Has […]
One in five adults ‘still addicted to tobacco’, says WHO
[…] in implementing proven tobacco control policies.’ E-cigarettes were fuelling ‘a new wave of nicotine addiction’, added WHO director of health determinants, Etienne Krug. ‘They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.’ WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 […]
DDN October 2025
Nutrition should be part of harm reduction We have thought-provoking contributions on wellbeing in this issue – mental and physical – including our cover story (p6) in which the team demonstrate that addressing nutritional deficiency should be a regular part of harm reduction. It’s also clear that there’s much to learn in relating nutritional need […]
Love Kevin – a documentary about the life of Kevin Molloy
Kevin Molloy was a passionate advocate for harm reduction, beginning his work in the drugs field and, more recently, focusing his efforts on tobacco. Kevin was born in Birmingham, United Kingdom. His life experiences and passions shaped his character and expertise in various areas, including rugby, music, acting, and harm reduction advocacy—a role in which […]
When meta-analysis misleads: the need for methodological integrity in e-cigarette research
Tobacco harm reduction (THR), especially in the context of electronic cigarette (EC) research, remains highly contested within public health, often due to studies compromised by methodological flaws. These shortcomings in study design, analysis, terminology, or interpretation can distort scientific record, erode public trust, and generate misleading or uncritical media coverage and policy reports. These challenges […]
No half measures
[…] frequently not offered additional support for these issues and encounter significant barriers to accessing those services because they use drugs. Q started engaging with Release via our harm reduction hub a year ago, for harm reduction advice and needle and syringe provision. As he started to come more frequently, he told us about some of […]
Community connections
[…] community rehab, LEROs build a social, principled space where anyone can walk in and immediately sit down to talk with someone with lived experience of services, addiction, harm reduction and recovery. LEROs can offer a warm welcome, independent space and a sense of belonging. Operating this way in the community – away from burgeoning bureaucracy, […]
DDN Conference 2025: programme
[…] [vc_custom_heading text=”2.00 – 3.45pm Session three” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:38|text_align:left|color:%2303998a” google_fonts=”font_family:Coustard%3Aregular%2C900|font_style:900%20bold%20regular%3A900%3Anormal”] [vc_custom_heading text=”Jim Duffy, Smoke Works, Boston” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:26|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Coustard%3Aregular%2C900|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”] Feel the need, be the change: An exciting and innovative peer-led harm reduction initiative from across the pond! [vc_custom_heading text=”An interactive session led by Mark Gilman from Harm Reduction Research, Policy and Practice” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:26|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Coustard%3Aregular%2C900|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”] Bringing it back to […]
Dechrau Newydd drug service closure raises concerns for most vulnerable
[…] is not just a step backward – it is a failure to protect the most vulnerable,’ the charity said. It added that the service had offered essential harm reduction and recovery support, including employing people with lived experience. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales said a new service model was […]
Safer nicotine product taxation and optimal strategies for public health
BY GLOBAL STATE OF TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION (GSTHR) Taxation has long been regarded as one of the most effective tools by traditional tobacco control groups for controlling tobacco consumption. Tax on tobacco products is intended to serve two main purposes: to decrease demand by increasing prices, making these products less affordable and less appealing, and […]
European MDMA market rapidly evolving, say EUDA and Europol
[…] Goosdeel. ‘MDMA remains a popular drug in nightlife and music festival settings, so ecstasy tablets that contain high amounts of MDMA, or unexpected ingredients, pose serious risks. Harm reduction measures, like drug-checking services, are crucial to mitigate the dangers. Tailored prevention and treatment services are more critical than ever, as MDMA tablets may contain new […]
Letters
[…] John Ramsey, it’s been viewed almost 100,000 times. Since then we’ve done minutes with various experts on topics as diverse as what’s in cocaine, ecstasy pill testing, harm reduction for new drug virgins, PMA deaths, GHB and ketamine bladder. In 2014 we want to open the door to the huge range of expertise that exists […]
A place to thrive
[…] on a single issue and offers a radically different approach to the ‘four pillars’ of traditional responses to drug and alcohol addiction (treatment, prevention, law enforcement and harm reduction) that have ultimately failed. This is where we suggest that an ABCD approach will add the most value. For us, this approach goes beyond traditional strength-based […]
West Berkshire’s drug and alcohol service packs a punch with local community event
[…] impact in action. Jason Kew, public health strategist, spoke passionately about the local Combatting Drugs Partnership, highlighting the importance of collaboration between organisations to tackle stigma, promote harm reduction, and enhance education and prevention efforts. Jason Kew highlighted the importance of collaboration between organisations to tackle stigma, promote harm reduction, and enhance education and prevention […]
Startling statistics
[…] change in the context of a drug which can be powerfully reinforcing, but with equally powerful ‘comedowns’. The intervention offers two structured individual sessions based on discussing harm reduction in the context of motivational interviewing, and exploring the person’s values and goals. The person can then choose to join a four-session rolling group programme with […]
MPs to vote on tobacco and vapes bill today
[…] gambling treatment, research and prevention, would come into force next April. The proposals formed part of the government’s controversial gambling white paper, which was published in April last year. See tobacco harm reduction feature in November’s DDN and gambling feature in the December-January issue tobacco and vapes bill MPs to vote on tobacco and vapes bill today
A flexible approach to work
[…] I never thought I would ever be able to do anything about it or prove that these beliefs were right, but in the early 2000s, as a harm reduction activist, I had taken on the task of sourcing citric acid sachets for people who inject and soon found myself needing help with the warehousing, packing, […]
Now hear this
[…] symptoms. One of the drugs George used were pills advertised as ‘pressed oxycodone M30s’. It didn’t take long for George to develop a dependency. Most of the harm reduction conversations around nitazenes in the UK thus far have focused on reducing risks among people whose drugs have been contaminated with nitazenes, assuming that the user […]
Different class
[…] fundamental ‘harm reductionist’, and I’m back there again. It seems to me that the primary response to the challenges that face us today is good old fashioned harm reduction. At the time of writing the working class are once again being demonised by polite middle class society. Who would have thought that John Major’s ‘condemn […]
Recovery Month reflections: Forward’s in-person recovery event for London-based staff
[…] featuring synthetic drugs, alcohol unit measuring cups, and beer goggles for educational purposes. Forward Trust Services: Shared vital information on dependency, recovery processes, local treatment providers, and harm reduction. There were also lots of fun activities, such as live music and line dancing, a substance misuse awareness quiz, and an award ceremony to celebrate the […]
Cranstoun micro-eliminates hepatitis C across Sandwell
[…] in Sandwell is a major public health victory for our community. This reflects our tailored, local approach – ensuring those most affected have access to vital testing, harm reduction services, and life-saving treatments right here in Sandwell. ‘By working closely with local partners, addressing stigma, and making care accessible, we’ve not only transformed individual lives […]
A fair exchange
[…] for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.’ They are also harm reduction innovators extraordinaire (my words). In practice, what I saw on the ‘coalface’ was top-quality and innovative harm minimisation products and educational information being developed, produced and […]
Largest ever trial of ketamine-assisted therapy underway
[…] affect not only the individual but families, friends and communities, and related deaths have increased still further since the pandemic,’ said consultant psychiatrist Professor Rupert McShane. ‘Alcohol-related harm is estimated to cost the NHS around £3.5 bn each year, and wider UK society around £40 bn. We urgently need new treatments. If this trial establishes […]
Fall in suspected Scottish drug deaths
[…] reports of police officers attending scenes of death, and used to provide a ‘timely indication of trends and to detect any potential recent changes or clusters of harm’, PHS points out. They do not provide the same ‘robust’ indication of the number of drug-related fatalities as the official annual figures from National Records of […]
One in six vapes confiscated in schools contained spice
[…] then they’ve got a chance of making a different choice.’ While the issue is being addressed regionally, he urged the government to ‘elevate it to a national harm reduction priority’, he stated. ‘I call on the Home Office and the Department for Education to highlight this problem and to provide police forces and schools with […]
London Homelessness Awards
[…] team includes peer mentors with lived experience of homelessness and substance use who provide advice and guidance to support people on their recovery journey. The also give harm reduction advice if a person is not yet ready to make a change in their substance use. Turning Point and The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea […]
Two million global alcohol-related deaths among men, says WHO
[…] were from noncommunicable diseases – including 470,000 from cardiovascular disease and more than 400,000 from cancer. ‘There is a complex relationship between substance use, alcohol- and drug-related harms and socioeconomic status, and people with lower socioeconomic status are disproportionally affected by harms due to substance use,’ the document states. ‘The impact of alcohol, tobacco […]
Let’s be Stronger Together
[…] strong synthetic opioids have dominated, with everyone pulled into emergency planning and better communication. Drug consumption rooms have become acknowledged at the highest level as a basic harm reduction tool that cannot be ignored. Drug strategy ambitions have translated into a widespread recruitment drive and a focus on the training and skills needed. Now we […]
Exclusion zones
[…] themselves in a particularly marginalised situation, forced into navigating a system that doesn’t work for them. And yet there’s great inclusive practice for both ARBD-specific care and harm reduction. In future articles we’ll look at how best practice can mitigate stigma-related barriers. Right now though we need your help. Hopefully you can see why this […]
Slight fall in ‘staggeringly high’ US drug death figures
[…] by all of our partners in this effort and the work being done on the ground as part of a coordinated federal effort on prevention, services, and harm reduction. However, this does not mean we have accomplished our mission. The data show we still lost over 100,000 people last year, meaning there are still families […]
Nitazenes – new drugs, new risks
[…] Trust CEO Mike Trace. ‘But we also know that there are public health measures that can help reduce overdose death risks – accessible and accurate safety advice, harm reduction services, and offering people living with addiction a practical way out.’ A special programme, The New Drug Threat, can be found on BBC iPlayer. This blog […]
Full to bursting
[…] connection with housing or benefits professionals, or some other kind of social capital. So it was principally about education and awareness, but also an open door to harm reduction according to that person’s needs, and the drug services were really keen. We had a working group – as well as our partner Druglink we had […]
Strength in numbers
[…] to same-day prescribing and treatment options. Once someone has completed their initial assessment, we can help them right away with things like testing for blood-borne viruses and harm reduction interventions including free naloxone kits and training. If we’re able to secure a GP summary, and with other relevant tests completed, we can safely prescribe them […]
Raising the alarm on synthetic opioids – why the UK should not be complacent
[…] that the drug market in the UK is shifting in a worrying direction. Yet, we know there are measures we can take. Accessible and accurate safety advice, harm reduction services, and always offering people living with addiction a practical way out. At policy level, the government and local authorities have to get over their squeamishness […]
Confidentiality key in drug-checking services, says study
[…] earlier this year in Bristol. The Scottish study was carried out between 2021 and 2023 in partnership with Public Health Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, NHS Tayside and harm reduction charity Crew. Participants – who included charity and NHS staff, police, and people with experience of drug use and their families – were interviewed about a range of […]
Language Barriers
[…] – or who are currently using – are comfortable with.’ It was also important to challenge definitions of recovery that had been externally imposed, said Jon Findlay, harm reduction lead at Humankind. ‘If I don’t stop using drugs, I’m not a successful treatment outcome – I’m not a success until I can tick a box […]
Working at WithYou: Emma and Jade’s pharmacy technician journeys
[…] best treatment for our clients.’ What’s the best thing about being a pharmacy technician? Emma: ‘There’s no better feeling than knowing you are helping clients by offering harm reduction advice and getting the knowledge out there that overdoses can be prevented. Building relationships with people, like local pharmacies, and bridging the gap to help make […]
Early Intervention
[…] likely to externalise problems and to act out anger and distress through antisocial behaviour, and girls to internalise their responses in the form of depression and self- harm. Substance misuse services for young people may need to consider these gender issues. The toll of trauma The impact of such adverse experiences can be profound. […]
Simple Solutions
[…] Somerset Council. (The DDN Conference 2023): Cranstoun’s Worcestershire service talk about their peer-led naloxone team, PACKS – ‘peer-assisted community knowledge and support’. Search for naloxone distribution and harm reduction vacancies on DDN jobs Read more on harm reduction and naloxone distribution in our archive. reading the safer injection guide naloxone posters naloxone training naloxone posters […]
New app helps to locate free naloxone
[…] and needle exchanges that offer free naloxone has been launched by Turning Point and Somerset Council. (The DDN Conference 2023): Cranstoun’s Worcestershire service talk about their peer-led naloxone team, PACKS – ‘peer-assisted community knowledge and support’. Search for naloxone distribution and harm reduction vacancies on DDN jobs Read more on harm reduction and naloxone distribution in our archive.
Rough Treatment
[…] for everything, and we still find ourselves regularly stumped on advocacy cases. Much of what we’ve achieved would not be possible without help from others in the harm reduction world, who have generously shared examples of good practice, specialist resources, and strategy ideas for our advocacy cases. We want to return that kindness by sharing […]
Nurses at drug and alcohol recovery service in Rochdale and Oldham nominated for national...
[…] house or they’ll go and see them in a hospital or in a hostel. “Our nurses recognise that some of our clients don’t go and see the GP or they don’t attend hospital appointments. We need to reach these clients and give them harm reduction advice and make it easier for them to access services.” Annie Lynn, senior operations manager at ROAR added, “Some of the people we work with have a multitude of issues that […]
My road, my choice
[…] others it is having a stable base line – controlled use. Others want medication and to be substance free. Then there are those who simply want effective harm reduction. All of them are valid, all roads should be included. It’s not mine or anyone else’s role to tell users what’s the best road – that’s […]
Review of the year 2013
[…] substances and the Organization of American States issues a landmark report looking at different options for the future of Latin American drug policy. June The 23rd International Harm Reduction conference sees policy makers and service users gather in Vilnius to ‘reclaim’ harm reduction from those who seek to define it as a ‘morally suspect, clinical […]
Bringing care to the streets of Hackney
[…] We have weekly meetings with professionals from other organisations to make sure our high-risk clients are being cared for. “We’re also able to give out food vouchers, harm reduction medicine – such as Naloxone (to reduce death by overdose), and help signpost toward accommodation when the temperatures drop below freezing. “Each week the clinical van […]
Delivering a blended approach to substance use and mental health provision at New Oakwood...
[…] to achieve with our blended approach for example, improvement in peoples’ mental well-being and health including treating anxiety and depression, reduction in mental health crises and suicide/self- harm attempts, improved retention, reduction in early leavers and a potential reduction in psychiatric medication Read the full blog post here. DDN magazine is a free publication […]
Welsh drug deaths up by almost half
[…] public health burden caused by alcohol,’ said Alcohol Health Alliance chair Professor Sir Ian Gilmore. ‘We are hopeful that this represents the start of a new approach to alcohol harm from the government, with the enormous costs from alcohol harm better offset with fairer duty policies.’ Harm reduction database Wales: drug-related mortality at https://phw.nhs.wales Rick Lines
A fine balance
[…] monitored to ensure that they are overcome. The MSIC and indeed my ongoing work at the Kirketon Road Centre, where we deliver a comprehensive range of integrated harm reduction and sexual health services in the same area of the city, have convinced me that local solutions are needed for local problems – one-size solutions will […]
US drug deaths up by 15 per cent
[…] the previous year – with overdose deaths increasing in every US state except Hawaii. The Biden administration recently launched its first drug strategy, with a marked shift towards harm reduction policies in an attempt to tackle the country’s ‘overdose epidemic’ (DDN, May, page 5). ‘Once again, we are devastated by these numbers,’ said Jules Netherland of […]
High Impact
[…] street heroin. ‘Some individuals may slip up, but in terms of their overall level of heroin use it’s a dramatic reduction, and there’s been significant reduction in harm.’ People who had been regularly visiting hospital for wounds and infections were no longer attending, and clients had reduced their overall consumption of other substances. There […]
Opening doors
[…] much easier for someone to walk through it. The team brandish naloxone kits when they’re out and about – a conversation starter as well as a vital harm reduction intervention. They wear their naloxone shirts and are proud to spread the word as Medway naloxone peers. On their route down the high street they stop […]