Drugs Uncut

'Voices of value' with Jason Wallace

There is an expectation that services and planners include people in decisions that directly affect their lives. So why does this rarely happen when decisions are being made that affect people who are experiencing drug problems?

This is now one of the most pressing questions facing the drugs field in Scotland and beyond.

In this episode Jason Wallace, SDF's Senior Development Officer for Volunteering and Engagement, joins us to discuss what the perceived barriers to engaging with people are and how they can be overcome.

Jason describes a pioneering initiative in Glasgow that provides a safe space for people who use drugs to discuss issues, raise these with service providers and others and to hold people to account.

We were also delighted to chat with a member of the group, Martin, and also SDF Peer Research Volunteer, Matthew, to discuss what opportunities like the above initiative means to the people attending.

'Heroin-assisted treatment - New service, new hope' with Danny Ahmed and Dr Carole Hunter

The new 'Enhanced Drug Treatment Service' in Glasgow has opened it's doors and offers Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) - the prescribing and distribution of injectable diamorphine - as one of it's main provisions.

In this episode, we talk about the merits of the new service and hear from two key individuals in the delivery of HAT in England and Scotland.

We speak to Danny Ahmed of Foundations Teeside and Dr Carole Hunter of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to find out about how the services operate, what challenges have been overcome and how the services will aim to make a difference in people's lives.

'The task ahead' with Professor Catriona Matheson

In this episode we discuss the Scottish Government's 'Drug Deaths Taskforce' that has been convened in response to the worsening drug overdose crisis that is currently enveloping Scotland.

We hear from Professor Catriona Matheson, Chair of the Taskforce, about how the first two meetings have gone and what the group hopes to achieve.

Also, Kirsten Horsburgh, lead of the Scottish National Naloxone Programme and SDF podcast host, takes us through some of the recommendations she has made to the group in regards to Scotland's naloxone provision.

'Connections during crisis' with Garth Mullins, Canadian drug user activist

In this episode we sit down with Garth Mullins, an award-winning radio documentarian, 'Crackdown' podcast host and drug user activist from Canada.

Garth spoke at our 'Connections During Crisis' conference where he talked about his experience of living with a methadone prescription, the current opioid crisis and the need for drug consumption rooms.

Who, What and Why? - Introductory Episode

The 'who, what and why' of Drugs Uncut - Scottish Drugs Forum's podcast