Drugs Unwrapped: The Podcast

What is trauma-informed practice?

We are joined by Sarah, CAVDAS Alliance Manager, to shed light on what trauma-informed practice is and why it matters. Sarah has led Barod's journey towards becoming a trauma-informed organisation and has played a key role in embedding this approach across the delivery of multiple substance use services throughout Wales. Sarah walks us through the different forms of trauma, how this may present itself within people accessing our services and why implementing a trauma-informed approach is crucial to the delivery of harm reduction services. We also discuss how we measure the approach's impact and effectiveness, as well as some hints and tips for listeners who may be starting on their own journey of implementing such an approach within their own organisation. If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066. Contents of the video: (00:00) Highlights of the episode (01:11) Introduction (02:13) What is trauma-informed practice? (05:02) Different forms of trauma and what does it look like? (12:50) Is a trauma-informed approach more important than ever? (16:15) Are there elements within service delivery that can retraumatise people? (19:29) How do measure a trauma-informed approach's impact? (28:29) Challenges of embedding a trauma-informed approach within services (31:10) Tips to start the journey of instilling a trauma-informed approach

Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs: What's the appeal?

In this episode, we are joined by Liberty Musungo, Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) Lead for Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS). Liberty takes us through what IPEDs are and how they work on the body. We also discuss why people take IPEDs and why injecting them is considered safer than using the substances in tablet or cream forms. We also discuss how people use them, in the form of cycles and why doing post-cycle treatments are essential as part of the process of using IPEDs. Plus we talk through how influential peer-led advice and social media is, when it comes to people using IPEDs. If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.Contents of the video:(00:00) Highlights of the episode (01:00) Introduction (02:00) Setting up the IPED service (04:39) What are IPEDs? (12:48) Peptides (14:05) Side effects of taking testosterone (15:45) IPEDs to build muscle (17:10) Impact of IPEDs on natural testosterone production (19:35) IPED cycle and PCT (29:23) Trends (34:04) Social media and peer influence (40:03) Risks

How do we become anti-stigma?

In this Learning at Work Week special, we are joined by Barod's Operations Manager, Sian, to discuss how we can move from being non-stigmatising, to actively challenging and becoming anti-stigma. In this episode we discuss what stigma is and how it often looks within the substance use field. We also highlight the importance for this topic to be on the agenda and frequently discussed. We also discuss what being anti-stigma is and how people can make that shift away from just being non-stigmatising. If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.Contents of the video:(00:00) Highlights of the episode (01:26) Introduction (02:01) What is stigma? (03:01) What is anti-stigma? (06:32) How does stigma present itself within the substance use sector? (11:10) Why should we keep stigma on the agenda? (14:27) Get curious - practical steps to become anti-stigma (17:40) Impact of language upon people

Inside the Green Party’s Plan to Legalise Drugs

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Carrie Hamilton and Michael Wakelyn-Green, from the Green Party Drug Policy Working Group, to explore the party's proposed approach to drug policy. With recent focus on their long-term plan to legalise and regulate all drugs in the UK, we discuss how different drugs would be regulated and how the party would navigate obstacles including contravening UN conventions. We also dive into some of the party's short-term policies that could be implemented within the current legislative framework, including establishing more UK-based overdose prevention centres, to decriminalising the personal possession of cannabis. If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.Contents of the video: (00:00) Highlights of the episode (01:26) Introduction (05:27) Short-term policies under the current legislative framework (14:55) Decriminalisation vs legalisation (23:01) How would different drugs be regulated? (28:59) How would the money raised by a legally regulated market be redistributed? (32:46) Overcoming UN conventions (38:44) Responding to others saying legalising drugs send out the wrong message

Drugs on the brain with Professor David Nutt

In this episode, we’re joined by leading neuropsychopharmacologist, Professor David Nutt, for a deep dive into the human brain and its relationship with drugs. We discuss whether our brains are built to consume drugs; whether modern society is changing the brain's neurochemistry and making people more vulnerable to substance use; how benzodiazepines work on the brain; and whether there will ever be a 'methadone equivalent' for stimulants such as cocaine? We also draw upon Prof. Nutt's experience within the political arena, as the former chair of the Advisory Council of the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). We discuss what impact the potential reclassification of ketamine, to a Class A drug, may have. Alongside this, we explore whether the Green Party’s call to legalise and regulate all drugs is shifting the debate into the mainstream, challenging the idea that progressive drug reform is a political risk. If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066. Note: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) makes recommendations to government on the control of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs, including classification and scheduling under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its regulations. ACMD is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office]. Contents of the video: (00:00) Highlights of the episode (01:04) Introduction (02:34) The power of the brain (04:53) Why does understanding the brain matter when it comes to human behaviour? (09:00) Is the brain built to consume drugs? (13:23) Is modern society shaping our neurochemistry? (21:36) Do we know everything there is to know about drugs on the brain? (26:42) Pharmacological treatment for stimulant use and other drugs (33:27) Benzodiazepines (40:52) Reclassifying ketamine (48:15) Green Party's policy to regulate all drugs and previous political broken promises (52:49) Quickfire Q&A