Drugs on the brain with Professor David Nutt

Developing digital infrastructure within harm reduction with Mark Tudor

In this episode, we are joined by Mark Tudor, co-founder of Substancy [https://www.substancy.com/]. Mark has worked in the harm reduction field for over 30 years, but most recently has established Substancy, a social enterprise that aims to develop solutions by combining knowledge about substances with the latest digital technology. Mark takes us through Substancy's journey and their development of multiple digital services, including Drugbot [https://drugbot.cranstoun.org/en/onboard] and Drugs and Me [https://www.drugsand.me/], that aim to provide people with the information they need via digital tools. Mark discusses how such innovations have allowed us to gain valuable, real-time data, to allow the harm reduction field to shift from being reactive to proactive, in supporting people affected by substance use. Mark also shares his insight into how a digital infrastructure within treatment services foundations are critical and how such digital tools are bridging the gap between harm reduction and the general public.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 (00:44) Introduction (02:28) Digital tools meeting out of hours requests (04:46) Technology changing the landscape (06:48) Gaining real-time data to adapt harm reduction (08:51) Building digital infrastructure within service delivery (13:01) Becoming more proactive rather than reactive (16:59) How do we know it works and trends? (22:52) Enhanced Games: meeting new wants and needs (25:56) How far can digital tools in harm reduction go?

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