Addiction is a social problem, not a medical one SDF says 750 new support workers are needed SCOTLAND NEEDS an army of 750 new drugs workers if the escalating problem of substance misuse is to be tackled effectively, according to the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF), which submitted recommendations to the government last week in the hope they will influence its forthcoming Drugs Strategy for Scotland.
SDF director Dave Liddell said it was time to stop treating drug addiction as a medical problem and more as a social problem. He said the 750 workers proposed by the SDF would be broken down into 200 housing support posts, 200 workers to help drug users find work, 250 family support officers and 100 outreach workers.
Liddell said: "It's about wraparound treatment that goes beyond the medical focus, and those 750 posts recognise that people with drug problems, in most cases, have a range of social problems, and if they are not addressed then the chances of them addressing their drug problem is pretty remote."
He insisted that extra investment for drugs resources should come out of the regeneration budget, which is about £1.6 billion over the next three years.
Liddell said it was clear existing regeneration programmes "don't take full account of the social problems that exist in that community" and instead concentrate on the "bricks and mortar".
"It's not enough to fix housing stock on its own; it's about regenerating the entire community," he said.
"We should look at the models we use for development in third world countries where you start to prepare those communities to become more resilient, and that obviously involves education, training and employment in the local area."
Joy Barlow, head of Scottish Training on Drug and Alcohol (Strada) said it was time for everyone entering social care professions to have basic training in drug and alcohol misuse.
"Very few professionals have drug and alcohol misuse training as part of their pre-qualification or undergraduate diploma. For example, very few school teachers ever really had the opportunity to explore these issues. It is fundamental that teachers are able to identify and intervene with those children who are experiencing drug and alcohol misuse or are living with someone who is.
"The Curriculum for Excellence is going to find it hard to meet its four national characteristics, which include things such as confident learners, if quite a few of them are disadvantaged by life's circumstances, and drug and alcohol misuse can be a disabling life experience for them," she said.
"Drug and alcohol misuse probably impacts every level of professional discipline across Scotland today, and in education and training we are not hitting the spot."
Andrew Horne, director of Addaction Scotland, a drug and alcohol treatment charity, said more staff were needed to address the log jam of drug addicts who were seeking services.
"I met a guy in our service who couldn't even get on a waiting list because he was seen as not priority, and he then doesn't show up on statistics. If you can't get into treatment you can't get into rehabilitation.
"He is left out there and that happens quite a lot. You have a motivated person who can't even stabilise or detox, he can't even get his foot in the door.
"Then there are those who want to get out, but there aren't enough employability workers in the field who can help with training and education."
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We welcome the Scottish Drugs Forum's recommendations and will give them careful consideration as we develop our new drugs strategy."
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Posted by: peter McCann, Castle Craig Hospital on 11:24pm Sat 2 Feb 08
It is pointless providing an addict with housing, attempts at training for a job etc without first giving them good quality and effective treatment . It is beconning more and more accepted that addiction is a brain disease , one has only to look at spect or fMRI scans to see this damage. Let the brain repair itself ,and it takes time, provide quality psychotherapy at the same time and then follow it with the housing and jobs and their may be success. The other way around does not work.
It is pointless providing an addict with housing, attempts at training for a job etc without first giving them good quality and effective treatment . It is beconning more and more accepted that addiction is a brain disease , one has only to look at spect or fMRI scans to see this damage. Let the brain repair itself ,and it takes time, provide quality psychotherapy at the same time and then follow it with the housing and jobs and their may be success. The other way around does not work.
Posted by: Seumas on 11:48pm Sat 2 Feb 08
Does Dave Liddell often have Alice round for tea?
Four key components to solving this problem are - bars, cells, locks and keys. Doctors, nurses, training and hopefully jobs come later.
Does Dave Liddell often have Alice round for tea?
Four key components to solving this problem are - bars, cells, locks and keys. Doctors, nurses, training and hopefully jobs come later.
Posted by: Johnny Walker, Glasgow on 2:41am Sun 3 Feb 08
Locking people up will not solve the problem.
Drug and Alcohol abuse in this country is spiraling out of control and knows no social or economic barriers. This is society's problem and we need to take responsibility for it.
An addict has only one thing on their mind the next fix, intervention in that process is the key to stopping this mayhem. Culturally we need a new set of values with a clear and distinct message that states that there is more to life than [bold]'getting out your face'[/bold] . Unfortunately this has not changed in my lifetime and I'm pretty sure if the availability of cheap drink and drugs was at the same level 40 to 50 years ago then the same level of useage would ensue. It saddens me to say but this is a culture issue and we need to waken up to the fact.
Locking people up will not solve the problem.
Drug and Alcohol abuse in this country is spiraling out of control and knows no social or economic barriers. This is society's problem and we need to take responsibility for it.
An addict has only one thing on their mind the next fix, intervention in that process is the key to stopping this mayhem. Culturally we need a new set of values with a clear and distinct message that states that there is more to life than
'getting out your face' . Unfortunately this has not changed in my lifetime and I'm pretty sure if the availability of cheap drink and drugs was at the same level 40 to 50 years ago then the same level of useage would ensue. It saddens me to say but this is a culture issue and we need to waken up to the fact.
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 6:30am Sun 3 Feb 08
It may know no social barriers, but is more visible in poorer communities, without family support and education. Try walking through Bearsden then Possilpark
It may know no social barriers, but is more visible in poorer communities, without family support and education. Try walking through Bearsden then Possilpark
Posted by: Donald Anderson, glasgow on 6:31am Sun 3 Feb 08
It may know no social barriers, but is more visible in poorer communities, without family support and education. Try walking through Bearsden then Possilpark
It may know no social barriers, but is more visible in poorer communities, without family support and education. Try walking through Bearsden then Possilpark
Posted by: Carel, Isle of Skye on 9:09am Sun 3 Feb 08
Johnny Walker said:-
"Culturally we need a new set of values with a clear and distinct message that states that there is more to life than 'getting out your face' . Unfortunately this has not changed in my lifetime and I'm pretty sure if the availability of cheap drink and drugs was at the same level 40 to 50 years ago then the same level of useage would ensue."
On the issue of availability of drugs, specifically heroin, the one that causes the bulk of the problems that illegal drugs cause in Scotland: heroin is more available because there is no longer a legal supply for addicts.
I had friends in Glasgow in the sixties who became heroin addicts. Once they were addicts they got their heroin on prescription. As a result they weren't available as customers for the sellers of illegal heroin. Since all addicts were in that position there were virtually no sellers of illegally sourced heroin.
As soon as addicts were made into a customer base for smuggled heroin heroin became widely available. That happened after an ill-judged campaign by the Daily Express saying that it was all wrong that the state should feed addictions, in 1970. But, in reality, the British approach of accepting that opiate addicts need to have a controlled legal source or else all hell will break loose was correct. We had a miniscule heroin problem in the UK till that disasterous change of policy.
Johnny Walker said:-
"Culturally we need a new set of values with a clear and distinct message that states that there is more to life than 'getting out your face' . Unfortunately this has not changed in my lifetime and I'm pretty sure if the availability of cheap drink and drugs was at the same level 40 to 50 years ago then the same level of useage would ensue."
On the issue of availability of drugs, specifically heroin, the one that causes the bulk of the problems that illegal drugs cause in Scotland: heroin is more available because there is no longer a legal supply for addicts.
I had friends in Glasgow in the sixties who became heroin addicts. Once they were addicts they got their heroin on prescription. As a result they weren't available as customers for the sellers of illegal heroin. Since all addicts were in that position there were virtually no sellers of illegally sourced heroin.
As soon as addicts were made into a customer base for smuggled heroin heroin became widely available. That happened after an ill-judged campaign by the Daily Express saying that it was all wrong that the state should feed addictions, in 1970. But, in reality, the British approach of accepting that opiate addicts need to have a controlled legal source or else all hell will break loose was correct. We had a miniscule heroin problem in the UK till that disasterous change of policy.
Posted by: Craig P, Bonhill on 9:43am Sun 3 Feb 08
How about this for a social problem...people who have worked and paid taxes ( yes that old chestnut)all their lives cant do the jobs around the home they once could,and as such loose self esteem etc .etc. Now, how about we re-employ folks called home helps to help them out, rather than waste money on individuals who through their own choice ( no one is pouring alcohol/injecting heroin into them under duress) are unable to contribute and are unwilling to work. Oh and stop with the social inequality stuff just cause people come from council schemes doesn't mean they are mad for it drug addicts..People in possilpark get educated as well, and have family support, don't be so ignorant.
How about this for a social problem...people who have worked and paid taxes ( yes that old chestnut)all their lives cant do the jobs around the home they once could,and as such loose self esteem etc .etc. Now, how about we re-employ folks called home helps to help them out, rather than waste money on individuals who through their own choice ( no one is pouring alcohol/injecting heroin into them under duress) are unable to contribute and are unwilling to work. Oh and stop with the social inequality stuff just cause people come from council schemes doesn't mean they are mad for it drug addicts..People in possilpark get educated as well, and have family support, don't be so ignorant.
Posted by: Mike MacKinnon on 9:44am Sun 3 Feb 08
The fact is that drug dependancy is a life choice. nobody gets addicted to the likes of heroin after one hit, you have to want to become addicted! Let's not beat about the bush here!
I'm fed up listening to people who say that we need this and we need that for drug addicts. If you think heroin is more impostant to you than life itself, fair enough, that's your choice, but don't expect society to bau=il you out when the going gets tough.
The time is approaching when addicts will have to learn a painful lesson. Complete and utter withdrawal is the only answer. Perhaps if these people had the memories of what it's like in a withdrawal cell after they were busted, they would maybe think twice?
The fact is that drug dependancy is a life choice. nobody gets addicted to the likes of heroin after one hit, you have to want to become addicted! Let's not beat about the bush here!
I'm fed up listening to people who say that we need this and we need that for drug addicts. If you think heroin is more impostant to you than life itself, fair enough, that's your choice, but don't expect society to bau=il you out when the going gets tough.
The time is approaching when addicts will have to learn a painful lesson. Complete and utter withdrawal is the only answer. Perhaps if these people had the memories of what it's like in a withdrawal cell after they were busted, they would maybe think twice?
Posted by: Craig P, Bonhill on 9:46am Sun 3 Feb 08
[quote]A Scottish government spokesman said: "We welcome the Scottish Drugs Forum's recommendations and will give them careful consideration as we develop our new drugs strategy."[/quote] Watch the door doesn't hit you on the way out!!!
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We welcome the Scottish Drugs Forum's recommendations and will give them careful consideration as we develop our new drugs strategy."
Watch the door doesn't hit you on the way out!!!
Posted by: tony, wishaw on 10:05am Sun 3 Feb 08
mr. liddell has spotted a cash cow, take the treatment of drug users away from the nhs/medical model and all the cash will then come his way. it's pretty much what social work has done over the last 10 years, muscleing in and taking cash and then paying substandard wages to substandard staff. the role of the nhs/medics in the treatment of addiction continues to be watered down. only a couple of weeks ago glasgow addcition services announced that community psychiatric nurses who treat patients with addictions and mental health problems have been told they must no longer call themselves community psychitric nurses as it causes confusion!! the medical model works as if someone WANTS to change then the opportunity if afforded to them. with the s/w and the model mr. liddell subscribes too, the drug user, whether he wants to change or not, is offered a servive. his addiction is then blamed on social circumstances/damage
d individual (ned) and other such pink and fluffy terms offered up by hand wringers and panty **** as a cause of their addiction. in other words society is to blame, not the thieving scumbag taking illict drugs.
mr. liddell has spotted a cash cow, take the treatment of drug users away from the nhs/medical model and all the cash will then come his way. it's pretty much what social work has done over the last 10 years, muscleing in and taking cash and then paying substandard wages to substandard staff. the role of the nhs/medics in the treatment of addiction continues to be watered down. only a couple of weeks ago glasgow addcition services announced that community psychiatric nurses who treat patients with addictions and mental health problems have been told they must no longer call themselves community psychitric nurses as it causes confusion!! the medical model works as if someone WANTS to change then the opportunity if afforded to them. with the s/w and the model mr. liddell subscribes too, the drug user, whether he wants to change or not, is offered a servive. his addiction is then blamed on social circumstances/damage
d individual (ned) and other such pink and fluffy terms offered up by hand wringers and panty **** as a cause of their addiction. in other words society is to blame, not the thieving scumbag taking illict drugs.
Posted by: Mode, Glasgow on 11:55am Sun 3 Feb 08
At last some common sense comments on here as usually Drug Addiction articles are hi-jacked by hard nosed bigoted comments about junkies.
Drug addiction is both medical and a social problem and a two tier approach would be helpful. Local support is after all what the social work is there for and it's vastly under funded and over run with this problem and all the knock on effects that come with it.
People need to wake up to their responsibilities and not just those that are not capable of doing so but society has a responsibility to those who have no sense of themselves and how they fit in.
Drugs are about getting more lost than you already are. Support can lend a hand help people find a way to cope with life.
I totally agree that Addicts need to come off the drugs and not have their life styles maintained by feeding them but they should all be on a program but without adequate funding they will be forever stuck.
At last some common sense comments on here as usually Drug Addiction articles are hi-jacked by hard nosed bigoted comments about junkies.
Drug addiction is both medical and a social problem and a two tier approach would be helpful. Local support is after all what the social work is there for and it's vastly under funded and over run with this problem and all the knock on effects that come with it.
People need to wake up to their responsibilities and not just those that are not capable of doing so but society has a responsibility to those who have no sense of themselves and how they fit in.
Drugs are about getting more lost than you already are. Support can lend a hand help people find a way to cope with life.
I totally agree that Addicts need to come off the drugs and not have their life styles maintained by feeding them but they should all be on a program but without adequate funding they will be forever stuck.
Posted by: Mode, Glasgow on 11:55am Sun 3 Feb 08
At last some common sense comments on here as usually Drug Addiction articles are hi-jacked by hard nosed bigoted comments about junkies.
Drug addiction is both medical and a social problem and a two tier approach would be helpful. Local support is after all what the social work is there for and it's vastly under funded and over run with this problem and all the knock on effects that come with it.
People need to wake up to their responsibilities and not just those that are not capable of doing so but society has a responsibility to those who have no sense of themselves and how they fit in.
Drugs are about getting more lost than you already are. Support can lend a hand help people find a way to cope with life.
I totally agree that Addicts need to come off the drugs and not have their life styles maintained by feeding them but they should all be on a program but without adequate funding they will be forever stuck.
At last some common sense comments on here as usually Drug Addiction articles are hi-jacked by hard nosed bigoted comments about junkies.
Drug addiction is both medical and a social problem and a two tier approach would be helpful. Local support is after all what the social work is there for and it's vastly under funded and over run with this problem and all the knock on effects that come with it.
People need to wake up to their responsibilities and not just those that are not capable of doing so but society has a responsibility to those who have no sense of themselves and how they fit in.
Drugs are about getting more lost than you already are. Support can lend a hand help people find a way to cope with life.
I totally agree that Addicts need to come off the drugs and not have their life styles maintained by feeding them but they should all be on a program but without adequate funding they will be forever stuck.
Posted by: Mode, Glasgow on 11:56am Sun 3 Feb 08
At last some common sense comments on here as usually Drug Addiction articles are hi-jacked by hard nosed bigoted comments about junkies.
Drug addiction is both medical and a social problem and a two tier approach would be helpful. Local support is after all what the social work is there for and it's vastly under funded and over run with this problem and all the knock on effects that come with it.
People need to wake up to their responsibilities and not just those that are not capable of doing so but society has a responsibility to those who have no sense of themselves and how they fit in.
Drugs are about getting more lost than you already are. Support can lend a hand help people find a way to cope with life.
I totally agree that Addicts need to come off the drugs and not have their life styles maintained by feeding them but they should all be on a program but without adequate funding they will be forever stuck.
At last some common sense comments on here as usually Drug Addiction articles are hi-jacked by hard nosed bigoted comments about junkies.
Drug addiction is both medical and a social problem and a two tier approach would be helpful. Local support is after all what the social work is there for and it's vastly under funded and over run with this problem and all the knock on effects that come with it.
People need to wake up to their responsibilities and not just those that are not capable of doing so but society has a responsibility to those who have no sense of themselves and how they fit in.
Drugs are about getting more lost than you already are. Support can lend a hand help people find a way to cope with life.
I totally agree that Addicts need to come off the drugs and not have their life styles maintained by feeding them but they should all be on a program but without adequate funding they will be forever stuck.
Posted by: Derek, Norwich on 12:39pm Sun 3 Feb 08
"Drugs and alcohol" - here we go again, treating the two as in some way different. The ONLY difference is alcohol is a legal drug, the others are all uncontrolled substances - ie illegal.
Whilst this basic error exists in the mindset of those providing the support services, we'll get nowhere.
"Drugs and alcohol" - here we go again, treating the two as in some way different. The ONLY difference is alcohol is a legal drug, the others are all uncontrolled substances - ie illegal.
Whilst this basic error exists in the mindset of those providing the support services, we'll get nowhere.
Posted by: Peter O'Loughlin, Beckenham Kent. on 2:41pm Sun 3 Feb 08
The views expressed in this article has revealed how little the Scottish Drug Forum(SDF), knows about the nature of addiction. One is reminded of the quote by menckel, "For every complex problem, there is a soultion, that's neat, simple, and wrong.
Given that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association, (APA) both consider addiction to be a mental disorder, it reflects the crass ignornance of the SDF to suggest otherwise; they seem to be confusing a psychiatric disorder which has an adverse impact on society, with a purely social problem, therefore they are sorely in need of education and enlightment.
The definition of a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-1V)reads:
[italic][bold]" A clinically important collection of symptoms (these can be behavioural or psychological)that cause an individual distress, disability,, or the increased risk of suffering pain, disability, death, or the loss of freedom".[/bold][/italic]
Each mental disorder has axes to permit biopsychosocial assessment of individuals, including economic, housing,, occupational, educational, & Social Environment problems. In addition there are provisions for the inclusion and diagnosis of co-occuring mental and or physical disorders, giving rise to a condition referred to as comorbidity, a condition more common than not among addicts.
That the SDF appear to be ignorant of these facts renders it 'unfit for purpose'.
The ability of addicts who are in the early stages of recovery to manage the basic problems of day to day living is severely impaired. Yes they do need food, clothing and shelter,and yes appropriate facilities and resources should be provided, but to thrust upon them the responsibilty of taking care of the details attached to such needs would be grossly irresponsible until and unless parallel treatment for their addiction and co-ocurring disorders have been treated to the point where they are well on the road to abstinence based recovery.
The period of time required for the latter cannot be arrived at arbitarily, since the extent of the damage incurred varies with each individual.
The SDF do not appear to be aware that addiction is a chronic disease for which there is not cure; however recovery is possible and many people achieve it with effective interventions designed to address the physical, mental and spiritual nature of addiction. It is apparent from this latest gimmick that the SDF are incapable of offering or providing such a complex protocol; they can take cosololation from the fact that neither is the National Treatment Agency, who opt for box ticking over recovery.
The views expressed in this article has revealed how little the Scottish Drug Forum(SDF), knows about the nature of addiction. One is reminded of the quote by menckel, "For every complex problem, there is a soultion, that's neat, simple, and wrong.
Given that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association, (APA) both consider addiction to be a mental disorder, it reflects the crass ignornance of the SDF to suggest otherwise; they seem to be confusing a psychiatric disorder which has an adverse impact on society, with a purely social problem, therefore they are sorely in need of education and enlightment.
The definition of a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-1V)reads:
" A clinically important collection of symptoms (these can be behavioural or psychological)that cause an individual distress, disability,, or the increased risk of suffering pain, disability, death, or the loss of freedom".
Each mental disorder has axes to permit biopsychosocial assessment of individuals, including economic, housing,, occupational, educational, & Social Environment problems. In addition there are provisions for the inclusion and diagnosis of co-occuring mental and or physical disorders, giving rise to a condition referred to as comorbidity, a condition more common than not among addicts.
That the SDF appear to be ignorant of these facts renders it 'unfit for purpose'.
The ability of addicts who are in the early stages of recovery to manage the basic problems of day to day living is severely impaired. Yes they do need food, clothing and shelter,and yes appropriate facilities and resources should be provided, but to thrust upon them the responsibilty of taking care of the details attached to such needs would be grossly irresponsible until and unless parallel treatment for their addiction and co-ocurring disorders have been treated to the point where they are well on the road to abstinence based recovery.
The period of time required for the latter cannot be arrived at arbitarily, since the extent of the damage incurred varies with each individual.
The SDF do not appear to be aware that addiction is a chronic disease for which there is not cure; however recovery is possible and many people achieve it with effective interventions designed to address the physical, mental and spiritual nature of addiction. It is apparent from this latest gimmick that the SDF are incapable of offering or providing such a complex protocol; they can take cosololation from the fact that neither is the National Treatment Agency, who opt for box ticking over recovery.
Posted by: Johnny Walker, Glasgow on 2:45pm Sun 3 Feb 08
I totally agree with the last comment. The perception in our society is that drugs are causing the devastation when, of course, the legal drug - alcohol is actually worse. The criminality around drugs makes the situation sound worse but the criminal act our society partakes daily is the acceptance that alcohol is part of our culture and is a right of passage. Alcohol has a mind altering effect that we are legally allowed to purchase. This is insane!
I totally agree with the last comment. The perception in our society is that drugs are causing the devastation when, of course, the legal drug - alcohol is actually worse. The criminality around drugs makes the situation sound worse but the criminal act our society partakes daily is the acceptance that alcohol is part of our culture and is a right of passage. Alcohol has a mind altering effect that we are legally allowed to purchase. This is insane!
Posted by: tony, wishaw on 3:44pm Sun 3 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Johnny Walker[/bold] wrote:
I totally agree with the last comment. The perception in our society is that drugs are causing the devastation when, of course, the legal drug - alcohol is actually worse. The criminality around drugs makes the situation sound worse but the criminal act our society partakes daily is the acceptance that alcohol is part of our culture and is a right of passage. Alcohol has a mind altering effect that we are legally allowed to purchase. This is insane![/quote] the criminality around drugs makes it sound worse, what? are people making it up that every single illegal drug transaction is ILLEGAL. alcohol devastaes people lives but it is legal, and for every 1 it devastaes, 10 are not. sounds like one of these stupid socialist plans to legalise drugs.pffffffft.
Johnny Walker wrote:
I totally agree with the last comment. The perception in our society is that drugs are causing the devastation when, of course, the legal drug - alcohol is actually worse. The criminality around drugs makes the situation sound worse but the criminal act our society partakes daily is the acceptance that alcohol is part of our culture and is a right of passage. Alcohol has a mind altering effect that we are legally allowed to purchase. This is insane!
the criminality around drugs makes it sound worse, what? are people making it up that every single illegal drug transaction is ILLEGAL. alcohol devastaes people lives but it is legal, and for every 1 it devastaes, 10 are not. sounds like one of these stupid socialist plans to legalise drugs.pffffffft.
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