Welcome to the fortnightly
Aberdeen City Alcohol and Drugs Partnership
(ADP) E-Update
www.aberdeencityadp.org.uk
ISSUE: 1st April 2015
* FEATURE * LATEST NEWS * EVENTS * STUDY & TRAINING * VACANCIES * RESOURCES & PUBLICATIONS *
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the ADP E-Update! In this edition, we bring you news of another of the projects that the ADP
has recently funded through our Community Projects Initiative. Grampian Child Bereavement Network held
a training event on 29th January entitled “Supporting Children and Young People who have been bereaved
due to Substance and Alcohol Misuse”. The event was funded by the ADP and attended by 39 delegates.
The ADP commits non–recurring funds towards community project initiatives in line with both its alcohol and
drug strategies, and in 2015 we hope to feature more of the excellent work that these projects do.
We also hope to introduce another phase of funding in 2015 so if you are interested and would like to
register an interest, please email: ADPCommunityfund@acvo.org.uk
If you are a service provider or charity, are involved with a local project/event, or simply have an interest in
any particular subject that you’d like featured in the E-Update, then the ADP want to hear from you! We’d
also like to conduct occasional brief interviews with people working in the sector locally, those who have
been affected by substance misuse issues, family members or people in recovery. So get in touch and get
some exposure in the E-Update, which goes out to a wide readership of professionals, third sector groups,
service users and people in recovery.
Similarly, if you have any news items or events that you’d like included in the E-update please contact us.
The deadline for items to be included is midday on the Tuesday before the E-update gets circulated on
Wednesday fortnightly. The next issue is due out on Wednesday 15th April 2015.
Your feedback is also very important - if you wish to make any comments about the E-update please
contact Ian Reid - ADP Information Officer. Wherever possible we will incorporate any feedback to enhance
the effectiveness of this E-update.
Should you wish to be removed from our circulation list please also contact Ian Reid - ADP Information
Officer.
FINALLY! – Please follow Aberdeen City ADP on Facebook
concerning alcohol & drug related topics!
Thanks for reading 
The ADP Support Team
FEATURE
& Twitter
for daily updates and news
Grampian Child Bereavement Network
Training event – Supporting children and young people bereaved by substance & alcohol misuse
The ADP commits non-recurring funds toward community projects initiatives in line with both its alcohol and
drug strategies. Anyone working to improve outcomes for individuals or groups around alcohol and drugs in
their local communities can apply for a grant of up to a maximum of £5000. This could include supporting
those who use alcohol and drugs, or those directly affected by the use of alcohol and drugs. It could also
involve such things as education, prevention and reducing harm, safer and responsible practice, or
enhancing recovery and reducing stigma.
Grampian Child Bereavement Network is one of 12 recipients of ADP community initiatives funding in 2014.
GCBN applied for £1,700 to fund a training event at the Station Hotel in Aberdeen.
The following is from trainer and GCBN founder/trustee Anne Bone:“Grampian Child Bereavement Network is a local charity who provides services to children, young people
and their families who have been bereaved. GCBN believes that children and young people are better able
to process and manage their grief, if they are provided with appropriate support. One of GCBN’s key aims is
build confidence and skills within the workforce, and to meet this aim, they provide training to professionals
and groups who are working with children and families.
“A training event was held on January 29th 2015 at the Station Hotel, entitled Supporting Children and
Young People who have been bereaved due to Substance and Alcohol Misuse. The event was funded by
the ADP, and was attended by 39 delegates.
“Key speakers at the event were Alison Ford and Jennifer McKell, researchers from Stirling University who
have been part of the team who have been undertaking a study entitled Understanding and Responding to
Those Bereaved through Their Families Members’ Substance Misuse.
“Anne Bone, Trustee of GCBN presented the impact on children and young people who had been bereaved,
and some ideas and suggestions of how to support these children and their families.
“GCBN were grateful for the ADP for funding the event, as this allowed the opportunity to increase
knowledge of those who attended of the issues that impact on children and young people. The training day
met some of the ADP’s strategy and aims, by providing appropriate education, which could assist in
reducing further harm to the affected family, and also safe and responsible practice, by seeking ways to
engage with vulnerable families and providing services that would enable them to engage to reduce
vulnerability.
“The funding from the ADP provided the opportunity for GCBN to facilitate this event. While this was a one
off event, the charity is happy to provide further training to other groups in Aberdeen city on the impact on
children and young people who have been bereaved via their family’s use of substances and alcohol use.”
For queries or any further information concerning the ADP Community Projects Initiative, please contact
Ian Reid – ADP Information Officer
LATEST NEWS
Please note: Aberdeen City ADP does not take responsibility for the nature of any content, nor do we
necessarily endorse or support any views represented. News articles are referenced because they are
representative of mainstream media coverage of alcohol and drugs issues at the time of publication.
SFAD (Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs) - Research Project
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs are carrying out a survey in conjunction with the University
of Edinburgh.
The main purpose of this study is:
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to explore the impact & harms experienced by families/close others of those who use alcohol and/or
other drugs
to promote discussion and add knowledge about how this issue affects families/close others & what
services can do for the affected persons
to use the information to engage with the wider community, policy makers and health professionals
involved with implementing alcohol and/or other drug strategies in Scotland
We are looking for people to take part in the 15 minute telephone survey who have been affected by a loved
one’s substance use. The questions mainly relate to the person’s emotional wellbeing.
Once all the questionnaires have been completed they will be analysed. This will give us important
information to explore the impact & harms experienced by families/close others affected. This will give
Scottish Families an evidence base and it is hoped to lead to further funding and projects in order to
continue to and give support in Scotland.
If you know someone would like to take part in the survey please contact Kate on 0141 221 0544 or
kate@sfad.org.uk to find out more, and arrange a time suitable for you for a call back.
Shelter Scotland / Families Outside
TMW Grampian is a Shelter Scotland/Families Outside Project which aims to help families affected by
imprisonment.
If you have a loved one in prison or who is facing a prison sentence then we can help you.
The project aims to provide families affected by imprisonment with support and or money and debt advice.
To be eligible for the service you must:
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Have a family member in prison or facing a prison sentence
The family must live in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray
The Family must have at least one dependent child
Contact Details:
For Support - email Lindsay.jessiman@familiesoutside.org.uk Tel 07943 512378
Families Outside also provide a free phone helpline 0500 83 93 83
For Money & Debt Advice - email TMWGrampian@shelter.org.uk Tel 0344 515 2241
There are no set referral forms to be completed as long as the person has given your organisation authority
to pass their details onto the service this is acceptable. In the first instance the only info we need is the
persons, name, contact telephone number and if possible some brief background information.
The Methadone Memoirs
The Scottish Recovery Consortium is now running a new project to learn more about the reality of
methadone use and recovery in Scotland.
The Methadone Memoirs is gathering lived experience of methadone prescription, treatment and use in
Scotland for the first time.
All experiences are worth hearing we think. Are you a person in recovery who has experience of using
methadone? A friend or family member who has supported someone while they use methadone?
A pharmacist? A treatment provider? We would like to hear from you!
How do I take part in The Methadone Memoirs?
You can take part in an online interview through this website. To do that now, click here
Or, you can email them us directly using this email address methadonememoirs@gmail.com
You can contact us through our Twitter profile too @methadonememoir
Methadone programme 'is a black hole', says drug misuse professor
The methadone programme in Scotland is "out of control", an expert has warned.
Prof Neil McKeganey, from the Centre for Drug Misuse Research, said "it is literally a black hole into which
people are disappearing".
Data obtained by BBC Scotland showed pharmacists were paid £17.8m for dispensing nearly half a million
doses of methadone in 2014.
In response, the Scottish government said both doses and costs linked to opioid treatment had been
dropping.
Community Safety Minister Paul Wheelhouse told the BBC: "Fewer Scots are taking drugs - numbers are
continuing to fall amongst the general adult population, and drug taking among young people is the lowest
in a decade."
However, a lack of data to measure the programme's impact was the focus of criticism from Prof
McKeganey. (Marc Ellison, BBC Scotland)
Legal High Fears in Aberdeen
An Aberdeen drugs charity's telling Northsound News so-called legal highs are becoming a bigger problem
than heroin and cocaine.
Drugs Action Aberdeen say between 40 and 50 people every month are coming to them for help after
getting hooked on "new psychoactive substances."
Often they're mixing them with booze and other drugs. The effects can be wildly unpredictable, because
users have no idea what's in them.
Drugs Action Aberdeen are urging anyone who wants confidential advice or help to get in touch with them.
You can call them on 01224 594700 or go their website www.drugsaction.co.uk (Northsound1.com)
NHS bosses ask shops to stop selling legal highs
NHS chiefs are calling on shops to stop selling legal highs to curb an “alarming” strain on health services.
Doctors are dealing with patients who have taken New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) on a daily basis –
and six people have died after taking the substances in the past year.
Drug addicts are also injecting the so-called “party drugs” as an alternative to heroin or mixing them
together – leading to skin ulcers, blood poisoning, and even amputation. (Edinburgh Evening News)
MPs 'Putting Lives At Risk Over Legal Highs'
Health experts say MPs have not made banning 'legal highs' a big enough priority despite 77% of the public
wanting them outlawed.
Political parties are being urged to commit to a ban on the sale of so-called legal highs in their manifestos,
or risk putting thousands of young people at risk ahead of the summer music festival season.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) says MPs have been "too slow" in recognising the dangers and
legislating to protect consumers from such products, despite the public's desire for a ban.
According to new research seen by Sky News, three-quarters of the public want the sale of legal highs on
the high street to be banned. (Poppy Trowbridge, Sky News)
Consuming three alcoholic drinks a day may cause liver cancer – study
Consuming three alcoholic drinks a day can be enough to cause liver cancer, experts have said.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has pinpointed the level of drinking implicated in liver cancer
after undertaking what it says was the biggest review so far of the evidence on the relationship between
diet, weight, physical activity and the disease.
Its assessment of 34 previous studies covering 8.2 million people, more than 24,500 of whom had liver
cancer, revealed “strong evidence” linking intake of three drinks a day to the disease. (Denis Campbell, The
Guardian)
Government anti-drinking messages irrelevant to young binge drinkers, study finds
Government advertising campaigns to tackle excessive drinking are dismissed as irrelevant by young binge
drinkers, because consuming extreme quantities of alcohol is part of their sub-cultural social identity,
according to research published this week in the Journal of Business Research. (Science Daily)
Hepatitis C: only a step away from elimination?
The extraordinary recent developments in treatment for hepatitis C offer substantial grounds for optimism. A
series of new drugs—more effective in viral clearance with fewer side-effects—are changing the landscape
for hepatitis C. (The Lancet)
BLOGS, COMMENT & OPINION
Addict, service user, client or person? Decrypting the language of services...
What difference does a word make? It is clear to anyone and everyone that the substance misuse sector
loves its jargon and in particular its acronyms from DIP to CARATS to ABI's to ETE to ROSC, and it goes on
and on.
It can get seriously confusing when the sector overlaps with other sectors resulting in the same acronym
having two different meanings, such as Psycho-Social Interventions being written in a Prison Service
Instruction... a PSI in a PSI! (Glyn Davies, Breaking Free)
Drug education: The story behind the headlines
‘Anti-drugs lessons are counter productive’ runs the headline in this recent Telegraph article. You could be
forgiven for thinking this is a shocking revelation, but the issue is far more complex than the headline might
imply and the reality, as always, is a little more nuanced.
It’s fair to say that for the young people who need the most help, drug information on its own is unlikely to
have much impact on their drug or alcohol use. Talk to Frank – the government’s drug information portal – is
a useful resource in many respects, but not in terms of prevention. Young people need help with the choices
they make, but providing that help is often as much about addressing other critical factors in their lives as it
about providing access to information on drugs. (Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of Addaction)
Doctors urged to talk openly with patients about drug-taking for pleasure
Addiction psychiatrist Dr Adam Winstock tells medical conference that doctors are doing a disservice by
only speaking about drug-related harms:
Doctors need to start having honest and open conversations with their patients about illicit drug-taking for
pleasure, an eminent addiction specialist from London has told a medical conference in Melbourne.
Dr Adam Winstock, an addiction psychiatrist who also founded the Global Drug Survey, told the
International Medicine in Addiction conference on Sunday that doctors were doing a disservice by only
speaking about drug-related harms. (Melissa Davey, The Guardian)
For daily links to drug and alcohol news follow Aberdeen City ADP on
DrugScope Daily or DB Recovery Resources
EVENTS
&
or visit
Aberdeen in Recovery (Air) Hub
Every Saturday 10am – 1pm at The Foyer, Marywell Street, Aberdeen
Aberdeen in Recovery (AiR) runs a hub café every Saturday in the city centre for people recovering from
alcohol and drug misuse.
The AiR Hub events allow people to socialise freely in an alcohol and drug-free environment.
AiR works alongside other health and professional bodies in the community to promote and give hope to
others by showing what is possible.
As well as serving a selection of refreshments, butteries, rolls and pancakes, guest speakers and other
activities also take place within the sessions. These range from advice on healthy eating, to yoga and
relaxation tips.
The Hub runs every Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Everyone in recovery, or interested in recovery from
alcohol or drug misuse is welcome.
ORT, Recovery and Me Meetings
Various Dates/Venues
Coming off Opiate Replacement Therapies like methadone and suboxone is going to get easier.
From Monday 23rd February a new chain of mutual aid meetings has opened in Scotland. 8 ORT Recovery
meetings are opening as part of a national pilot scheme being organised by the SRC in partnership with
recovery communities in Scotland.
The goal of these new ORT recovery mutual aid meetings is the same as any other - to help more people
live a drug free life. Only this mutual aid meeting focuses on the experience of coming off this prescribed
medication. The lived experience of recovery from ORT will be heard at these meetings and people who
have "walked their ORT recovery talk" will be on hand to answer questions and help other people start or
unstick their own recovery journey.
Salvation Army Addictions Support Activities
2nd February – 25th May 2015
To assist those with drugs/alcohol issues move on with their lives and find meaningful employment.
It may not be possible to contact individuals to inform of cancellations so please call 01224 579370 to check
if sessions are running.
No activities on 2nd March, Easter Monday 5th April and 4th May 2015.
Penumbra POWWOWs – Workshops on Wellbeing
Various Dates from March – May 2015, Rosemount Learning Centre, Aberdeen
What is a POWWOW? POWWOWs are workshops on wellbeing. A group of people with a shared interest in
a particular area of wellbeing come together to share knowledge and experience. The groups particularly
focus on exploring tips, ideas and practical steps that can be taken to improve wellbeing in the chosen area.
Feel Better - Feel Healthier - Work Together - Feel in Control - Have Fun - Learn from Others - Be More
Confident - Do More
Narcotics Anonymous Public Information Open Day
17th April 2015 – Kinning Park Complex, Glasgow
Narcotics Anonymous are having a Public Information Open Day that is aimed, primarily, at professionals
who work with individuals with Addiction Issues. We would like to invite you and your team to get an
understanding of who we are and what we do. The day will consist of a presentation, an open “gold-fish”
meeting and a Q&A session.
The event will take place on Friday 17th April 2015 in the Kinning Park Complex (43 Cornwall Street, Kinning
Park, Glasgow G41 1BA) from 13.30-16.00 hours. Refreshments and food will be provided.
If you would like to attend please confirm by email (with the head count) to glasgowpi@ukna.org
For more general information on NA please visit our national website www.ukna.org
Offender Management 2015
21st April - Edinburgh
At Holyrood’s Offender Management conference, learn about the crucial desistance work of the third sector,
including the Wise Group’s New Routes Partnership.
This mentoring service for prolific male offenders saw its outcome-based success rewarded in 2014 with the
project extended by two years and its total funding boosted from £3m to £6m.
Join Fiona Benton, Head of Criminal Justice, The Wise Group, and Alexander Cochrane, Community-Based
Mentor at the New Routes Partnership, as they share insights into this inspirational project.
The full speaker list, agenda, past supporters, testimonials and much more can be found on the conference
homepage.
Mark Riding, Conference Marketing - Email: mark@holyrood.com Phone: 0131 272 2136
Register now to secure your place
Conference homepage
Central Aberdeenshire Alcohol, Drugs & BBV Forum
21st April 2015 - Acorn Centre, Inverurie
The forum is a place for local people to come together to discuss local issues pertaining to alcohol and drug
use. The Central Forum covers Formartine and Garioch and anyone living, working, studying or having an
interest in alcohol and other drugs’ issues in these areas is welcome to come along on Tuesday 21 April at
2.00pm at the Acorn Centre, Inverurie.
For more information please contact Susan Weetman at centralabdn.forum@hotmail.com or visit the
Central Forum pages on the Aberdeenshire ADP website at www.aberdeenshireadp.org.uk
Drug Trends and Vulnerable Populations Conference
30th April 2015 - Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow
This event will explore latest trends and issues in drug use in Scotland including:
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Bacterial infection in new psychoactive substance (‘legal high’) injectors
Wound botulism in injecting heroin users
Injecting Steroid and other performance and image enhancing drugs
Injecting and ‘chemsex’ in men who have sex with men.
The conference will also have a presentation on the latest data of drug-related deaths in Scotland and focus
on particularly vulnerable populations including:
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Street and public injectors
Vulnerable young people
Looked After and Accommodated Children.
Here is the latest PDF Programme and Word booking form
You can also find out more and book online here…
ANGUS – A Journey of Recovery
8th May 2015 – St Andrew’s Church, Arbroath
Angus are proud to present their second national event promoting partnerships in recovery. This event is
promoted by Angus Recovery Network, a collaboration of Statutory and voluntary organisations promoting
recovery in Angus.
This years theme is self management and recovery, there will be a diverse range of presentations with real
life experience of recovery and self management as well ten practical workshops
for delegates to participate in.
For initial enquires and booking form contact:James Kennedy james.kennedy@nhs.net or phone 01356 692817
SHAAP/SARN Alcohol Occasionals
Various Dates
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and the Scottish Alcohol Research Network (SARN)
are delighted to announce the 2014-15 series of lunchtime ‘Alcohol Occasional’ seminars to showcase new
and innovative research on alcohol use. All the seminars will be run in conjunction with the Royal College of
Physicians of Edinburgh and will take place from 12.30 – 14.00 at their historic premises at 9 Queen Street
Edinburgh, EH2 1JQ. Lunch will be provided.
These events provide the chance for researchers, practitioners and policy makers and members of the
public to hear about new alcohol related topics and discuss and debate implications for policy and practice.
The theme of the seminars for 2014-5 is Alcohol and Mental Health.
2014/15 Programme
Date
Speaker
Topic
23rd April 2015 Dr Anne Whittaker, NHS Lothian
and Edinburgh Napier University
Recovery, Mental Health, Alcohol
and Nursing
18th June 2015 Dr Aisha Holloway, University of
Edinburgh
Alcohol-Related Brain Disorders
To register via EventBrite, please click the relevant link (below) for each seminar you wish to attend. If you
have not booked, you will not have a place.
23rd April 2015: Recovery, Mental Health, Alcohol and Nursing (Dr Anne Whittaker)
18th June 2015: Alcohol-Related Brain Disorders (Dr Aisha Holloway)
Recovery Walk Scotland 2015
19th September 2015 - Glasgow
Dear Friends
This is a communication regarding the Recovery Walk 2015, please freely distribute to all your contacts.
Recovery Walk Scotland will return to Glasgow in 2015 - five years after the very first recovery walk in
Scotland was held there.
On Saturday 19th September 2015 Recovery Walk Scotland will be assembling on Glasgow Green to walk
the city centre route that will take us up High Street, through George Square and making our way back to
the Green via Clyde Street.
Claim the date now in your diary, you really do want to be part of this biggest gathering of all the shades,
colours, tribes, friends and allies of recovery in Scotland yet. All the colours of recovery will be there - united
in celebration of just being alive....What colour will you bring?
Get involved in building attendance for the Recovery Walk from your area. The Council of Recovery Walk
Scotland 2015 are inviting local Recovery Activists to set up city/region/area wide Walk organising groups.
Interested? Then contact the SRC and let us know....
isam DUNDEE 2015 Congress
Includes the 14th Centre for Addiction Research and Education Scotland (CARES) Conference
5th to 8th October 2015 – Dundee
The 17th International Society of Addiction Medicine (IAM) World Congress comes to Dundee, Scotland this
October, with over 100 leading addiction specialists expected from across the globe. You are invited to join
this prestigious gathering which will explore the theme:
“Addiction: from Biology to Recovery: Translating research evidence to improve clinical practice and
community resilience.”
The Conference will include 10 keynote speakers, workshops and plenary sessions with topics including:
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Addiction mechanisms
Comorbid mental and/or physical health issues
Substance misuse
Health inequalities
Alcohol and drug policies
Innovative treatment interventions
Free return coach transfers from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen
www.isamdundee2015.com
Registration
STUDY & TRAINING
Comas - Training in Recovery and Inclusive Practice
It’s a long shot, but if you do have any end-of-year slack to take up, what better long term investment than
developing your drug and alcohol sector workforce?
As you know, our training is based on real experience of developing and delivering some amazing recovery
work, not only the Serenity Café but training for peer supporters – we’re used to training mixed groups of
peers and professionals. Get in touch if you want to know more, or please forward on to your contacts.
Call us on 0131 556 8766
Email: mail@comas.org.uk
Hidden Sentence Training
21st and 28th April 2015 - HMP/YOI Cornton Vale
In all our communities, families serve hidden sentences when a member of their family is sent to prison.
Often families do not inform their children’s schools or seek support for a variety of reasons. Imprisonment
can have a great impact on the financial, practical and emotional well-being of families. Hidden sentence is
a short course for professionals who work with families, giving an overview of the issues facing prisoners’
families, the criminal justice system and a range of strategies and resources to help support them.
Session Dates, Times and Location:
Tuesday 21st April 10.00-1.30 Family Help Hub HMP/YOI Cornton Vale
Tuesday 28th April 10.00-1.30 Family Help Hub HMP/YOI Cornton Vale
Drugs for the Bar (free CPD Event)
Understanding new drugs and the role of drugs experts in Scottish courts today
23rd April 2015 - Edinburgh City Chambers
An introduction to new drugs (including “legal highs”) and exploration of drug case studies from the CREW
Expert Witness Team and special guests. Learn about drug trends in Scotland with a focus on issues for the
courts, highlighting the role of a drugs expert witness.
Course Objectives: by the end of the training participants will be able to:
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Identify the impact of new drugs on drug markets and use in Scotland
Recall examples of how drug expertise has been used in courts by both police and the defence
Involve and instruct drugs experts more appropriately
Who should attend: This event is open to anyone in the field of criminal justice and legal representation and
is particularly suitable for those working in defence.
Bookings: places are free but registration is essential www.drugsforthebar.eventbrite.co.uk
Tel: 0131 220 3404
Fresher Future Training – Raising the Issue of Smoking
7th May, 2nd June, 7th July, 9th September and 6th October 2015
Fresher Future is a city based project at Aberdeen Foyer promoting the message of giving up smoking in
three ways:
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Raising the Issue of Smoking motivational training (free for staff and volunteers)
Awareness sessions for young people about tobacco
Organisational support from the Foyer’s own experience of tobacco policy development
Raising the Issue of Smoking is a free short accessible course, designed by ASH Scotland in partnership
with the NHS Scotland, which aims to give participants the confidence, skills and knowledge to have a
conversational intervention with people on smoking. Prospective participants include anyone who may come
into contact with, and is able to raise the issue of smoking with individuals in the course of an opportunistic 3
to 5 minute chat. Those 5 minutes could make positive change a possibility for someone.
For further details please click on the link above, to register for training or get further information please
contact Keith Grassick, Tobacco Development & Support Worker, Fresher Future Email:
keithg@aberdeenfoyer.com
Tel:
01224 536706
Penumbra Self Harm Awareness Training
Various Dates, March – November 2015, Aberdeen Health Village
The training is conducted by Self Harm Development Worker Cheryl Peers and will cover a variety of topics
related to self harm such as:
- Defining and understanding self harm
- Recognising self harm
- What is the function of self harm?
- Responding to self harm
To book onto any of the training sessions please:
Email cheryl.peers@penumbra.org.uk
or Phone 01224 621266
GIRFEC Training Programme April - June 2015
For your information, please see attached programme of dates for the GIRFEC training courses running
from April to June 2015.
If you would like to book on any of the courses, please complete the booking form which can be returned by
email or post.
Fiona Buchan, Training Administrator, Futures Aberdeen
GIRFEC Training Programme April – June 2015
GIRFEC Booking Form
SMMGP Training Courses
Community Management of Alcohol Use Disorders
This e-learning module is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about management of alcohol use
disorders, including how the commissioning process works. It will be of particular interest to GPs, nurses
and pharmacists and other primary care practitioners.
This e-learning module is an introduction to the Advanced Certificate in Community Management of Alcohol
Use Disorders which aims to provide advanced learning for generalist and specialist primary care
practitioners who work with people who have developed problems with alcohol.
Advanced Certificate in the Community Management of Alcohol Use Disorders
An advanced course on the management of alcohol use disorders in primary care. This course is designed
for practitioners such as those who wish to advance their skills to "Practitioner with Special Interest" level.
We are now taking applications for the second intake of participants to start by July 2015. If you wish to
register, please contact us without delay at sarah@morganpengelly.co.uk
or access the course here www.smmgp-elearning.org.uk
Scottish Women’s Aid
We now have a new training programme for April – June 2015. If you would like to book anything please fill
in the booking form and return it to bookings@scottishwomensaid.org.uk
Alternatively you can book through our website where you will find details of all training courses on offer
plus other events held by SWA.
Training Programme April ’15 – June ‘15
Booking Form
VACANCIES
SFAD (Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs)
Grampian Family Support Development Officer
To be responsible for developing, maintaining and delivering a range of support services in Grampian to
families and support groups affected by someone else’s substance misuse, ensuring an effective response
to the needs of support groups and evaluating and demonstrating the impact of our services. This role
involves working with local partners to collectively advance the family support agenda.
The Grampian Family Support Development Officer will make a significant difference in the lives of families
and their journey through recovery.
Salary: £27,033 - £28,644
Salary info: 35 hours per week
Job Type: Full time
Closing date: 17 April 2015
Interview date: 24 April 2015
For further information at www.sfad.org.uk
Telephone: 0141 221 0544
Email: info@sfad.org.uk
Job Advertisement
Application Form
Job Description/Person Specification
Equality Diversity Monitoring Form
Alcohol Support Ltd.
Volunteer Counsellors & Supervisors
Alcohol Support is currently redeveloping it’s counselling service and is looking for Volunteer Counsellors
and Supervisors who would like to donate their time.
For over 30 years Alcohol Support has been providing a variety of services to the community to assist those
affected by alcohol misuse. Alcohol Support currently provides services in both Aberdeen City and
Aberdeenshire.
Requirements: Individuals should possess either a PgDip in Counselling or a Counselling Skills Certificate
(COSCA validated).
Additional training in alcohol addiction counselling will be provided.
Enquiries:
Tel. 01224 595981
Email info@alcoholsupport.co.uk
Occupational Therapy students available for placements
Occupational Therapy - working with organisations to achieve Co-Production of Health.
Do you have a project or idea? We can provide 3rd year occupational therapy students on the following
dates:
25th March, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th April 2015.
Please contact Stephanie Morrison for more information s.morrison@rgu.ac.uk
Telephone 01224 263273
Adfam – Families, drugs and alcohol
Policy and Communications Coordinator
We are recruiting a Policy and Communications Coordinator to join our small, energetic and ambitious
policy team, to take the lead on our communications work, manage specific projects and contribute to all
aspects of Adfam’s policy and good-practice work.
This is a stimulating and demanding role, and will offer variety and opportunities for exposure to a wide
range of stakeholders and projects.
Title: Policy and Communications Coordinator
Location: Adfam Offices, London, N1
Salary: Up to £25,000
Closing date: April 15 2015
Interview date: April 23 2015
Download the job description (pdf)
Download the application form (word doc)
RESOURCES & PUBLICATIONS
Alcohol and Drugs Services Aberdeen and Grampian – January 2015
An updated list of local Alcohol and Drugs Specialist service information in Aberdeen and Grampian.
Alcoholics Anonymous – Updated Meetings List
An updated list of AA meetings in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, including Helpline number etc.
Narcotics Anonymous – Updated Meetings List
An updated list of NA meetings in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, including Helpline number etc.
Universal Credit Presentation
Support available for claimants with drug &/or alcohol dependency in Scotland - Supplementary information
for treatment providers.
This presentation is designed to be used in conjunction with the guide Universal Credit: support if you are
dependent on drugs or alcohol which forms part of the DWP partner toolkit.
The toolkit is available at Universal Credit toolkit
Aberdeen City will begin to deliver Universal Credit between September 2015 and April 2016.
Naloxone Article – Informa Healthcare
Take-home naloxone to prevent fatalities from opiate-overdose: Protocol for Scotland’s public health policy
evaluation, and a new measure to assess impact.
In 2011, Scotland became the first nation to adopt take-home naloxone (THN) as a funded public health
policy and to put in place a science-led formal before/after evaluation. We summarise the background and
rigorous set-up for Scotland’s before/after monitoring of its high-risk opioid fatalities.
Large-scale implementation of alcohol brief interventions (ABI) in new settings in Scotland
A qualitative interview study of a national programme.
Background: This study aimed to explore experiences of implementation of alcohol brief interventions (ABIs)
in settings outside of primary healthcare in the Scottish national programme. The focus of the study was on
strategies and learning to support ABI implementation in settings outside of primary healthcare in general,
rather on issues specific to any single setting.
Removing legal highs from the high street – RSPH Publication, March 2015
Calls to action:
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For all political parties to commit to ban the import and sale of psychoactive substances in their
election manifestos
For local Trading Standards Authorities to make full use of existing consumer protection regulations
and general product safety regulations to remove unsafe NPS from the high street
Responsible marketing to be enforced to ensure NPS do not contribute to normalising illegal and
dangerous drug use
Increased youth awareness of the risks of NPS
For consumers to actively support their local authorities by reporting suspected bad practice to
Trading Standards
The assessment of recovery capital: properties and psychometrics of a measure of addiction
recovery strengths
Testing in the UK suggested that a questionnaire assessing the ‘recovery capital’ resources which help
overcome addiction might underpin more recovery-oriented assessments of services and of client progress
and needs – but only a study which followed up patients could confirm this, and do some of the questions
assess ability to recover, or recovery itself?
Looking for local funding?
People’s Health Trust
Local groups and organisations with great ideas to make their communities even better places to live are
now invited to apply for funding to turn their ideas into reality.
Active Communities is a funding programme for community groups and not-for-profit organisations, with an
income of less than £350,000 a year or an average of £350,000 over two years, seeking investment of
between £5,000 and £50,000 for projects lasting up to two years. We're looking for small and local projects,
genuinely designed and run by local people. By small, we mean just a small group of people on an estate, in
a few streets or villages.
We're also looking for great ideas from communities of interest. By this we mean a group of people who
have things in common and wish to come together to address something that is important to them. These
ideas could be based in one neighbourhood, or cover a wider area.
We run a two stage application process over a six week period that begins with a short online form. There's
step by step guidance to help you along the way but if you need any support, please call us on 020 7697
4021 or email us
The deadline for applications is 1pm on Wednesday 15 April 2015.
Apply for Funding
New app released! Activity and Mood Diary
Activity and Mood Diary by Ginsberg, released on Tuesday 17 March 2015, is a free app that allows users
to track their mood and mental wellbeing and discover how it is affected by their physical actions.
This new release is a smart diary app for tracking mood, events, sleep, exercise, calories, alcohol and much
more. It helps users to spot patterns in their behaviour so that they can make informed choices to improve
their lives.
Drinkaware - Unit & Calorie Calculator
Want to know what's in your drinks? Easy - just tell us a few things about what you drank and our unit and
calorie calculator will work out the number of alcohol units and calories you consumed.
SFAD (Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs) – Policy Briefing March 2015
Welcome to the Policy Briefing from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (Scottish Families) for
March 2015. John Holleran, Alcohol Liaison Officer, attended a Licensing Board meeting earlier this month
to find out if the licensing process is straightforward and easily accessible for individuals and community
groups. Read what he has to say in this month’s Featured Topic.
Adfam Policy Briefing – 16th to 27th March 2015
A fortnightly update on important policy developments relevant to family support and the drug and alcohol
sector, including comment, data, reports, parliamentary news, policy directions and debate.
Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership Update – Issue 100, March 2015
inc. Aberdeen Integration Update – Issue 12, March 2015
After 100 issues, it’s time to end one chapter of joint working in Aberdeen and look forward to the huge
opportunities available through integration.
Drink and Drugs News - The magazine for the substance misuse field - March 2015
In this month’s issue of DDN…
‘I’m not the only person in this room who’s been through challenges.’
Powerful presentations, inspiring personal stories and determined user activism at the eighth national
service user involvement conference, The Challenge: getting it right for everybody.
Read the coverage in March’s DDN, and don’t forget to join the discussion by commenting, tweeting and
liking our Facebook page.
Drugnet Europe – January to March 2015
Newsletter of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
In this issue: New EMCDDA trendspotter study explores online supply of drugs | EMCDDA scientific paper
award 2015 | New review studies the effectiveness of overdose antidote, naloxone | Finland updates
controls of NPS | New EMCDDA products and services | EMCDDA former premises sold
Hepatitis Scotland e-Bulletin 26 March 2015
Welcome to the latest edition of the Hepatitis Scotland e-Bulletin.
Hepatitis Scotland e-Bulletin March 2015
Welcome to the second part of a double edition of the Hepatitis Scotland e-Bulletin.
Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice (CYCJ) E-Bulletin, Issue 23, March 2015
Following on from the success of last month’s ‘Living it’ event, our work involving young people continues,
with the publication of the ‘Youth in justice: Young people explore what their role in improving youth justice
should be’ report. Hopefully you’ll agree it makes for an inspiring read. Please do flag this up with anyone
you think might be interested.
Alcohol Concern Newsletter
This week has seen the link between alcohol and liver cancer hitting the headlines. Alcohol is a causal
factor in over 60 medical conditions and costs the NHS around £3.5 billion each year - that's the wages of
around 88,500 nurses each year.
We've got more details on this story, as well as more information from Simon Richardson MBE who spoke
at the APPG on Alcohol Harm. Plus we've got a way for you to get involved and support our work.
Alcohol Focus Scotland eFocus - March 2015
Monthly newsletter from Alcohol Focus Scotland
Prevention Update - Issue 10, 2015
A unique weekly email highlighting articles recently published on the Prevention Hub. Visit
preventionhub.org
to see more from the international drug prevention world.
In this Issue:
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Research: Risk factors for drug use and offending change over the years
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Research: Prescription drugs are a big problem on American campuses

Statistics: Social media’s role in mentoring
MYCREW
MY CREW is a place where you'll find impartial drugs information, advice and support. Chat online
confidentially or join in the conversation on our forums.
Have you had a look around MY CREW recently? We've made some changes! We have updated the
forums, added new content into the A-Z and made it easier to chat online.
GET INFO - You can search the A-Z to find out more about different drugs and information about using
them in a less risky way if you choose to take drugs. If you think of anything we have missed from the A-Z
email mycrew@crew2000.org.uk
CHECK IT OUT - You can take the "Check it out Quiz" to see how risky your or some you know is when it
comes to drugs. The quiz is really short and will provide you with advice to help you with what to do next.
CHAT - You can use the online chat room to get information, advice and support from one of our trained
workers or volunteers. The chat room opening times are available on the website but you can always book a
private chat if you aren't free to talk during those times. Just email mycrew@crew2000.org.uk
FORUM - Want more? You can join in the conversation on our forum 24 hours a day. Ask questions and
share knowledge. CREW staff and volunteers keep an eye on the forums so will get back to you if you need
advice or support. You might just want to chat with other MY CREW users too. You can also let us know
about drug trends or new ways to stay safe. We love hearing from you
DOWNLOAD the MY CREW app FREE from the Google Play store. Log your use, track how much you are
spending, how it makes you feel and plan how you can use in a less risky way.
If you are worried about someone else the MY CREW can help too. Search the A-Z to find out more, chat
online to get advice and support or take a look around the forums.
Call 0131 220 3404 if someone is in need of immediate support.
Updated CREW Booklet – New Psychoactive Drugs
Please download our freshly updated guidebook "New Psychoactive Drugs" just released. It is a great
resource on current commonly used substances, where they fit on the "Drugs Wheel," plus harm reduction
and referral advice. Hard copies of the booklet restocked due to high demand.
Email events@crew2000.org.uk to place an order.
Overdose Awareness – DA
DA is trying to raise awareness of the risks of overdose and increase the number of people who have been
Naloxone trained and have their own life-saving naloxone kits. Naloxone is an effective tool in helping to
reduce drug-related deaths by temporarily reversing the effects of opiate overdose.
If you would like to know more about how to reduce the risk of overdose, details of the naloxone training
programme or would like to undergo the training itself, please contact us for more details.
Services are open 7 days per week and can be contacted via the DA helpline on 01224 594700.
Community Food Initiatives Northeast (CFINE)
Aberdeen Food Bank Partnership
Please note that CFINE opening times have now changed
Opening times flyer
The Aberdeen City Alcohol & Drugs Partnership (ADP) is a multi-agency partnership which was formed in
2009 following the publication of the Scottish Government / COSLA document, 'A Framework For Local
Partnerships On Alcohol And Drugs'.
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this E-Update or to the ADP newsletter, please contact Ian Reid - ADP
Information Officer.
If you have trouble viewing this e-mail, please view the latest E-Update at: http://aberdeencityadp.org.uk/newsand-media/news/