“More than a Methadone prescription…?”: A one-day conference on ‘wraparound’ drug services

Date: 29th November
Venue: The Teacher Building, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow

Methadone has become a metaphor for Scotland's drug problem and much of what is good and poor in terms of our response.With the recent Scottish Government review confirming methadone as an important element within the range of approaches to drug treatment in Scotland, the key focus now is on that all-important ingredient too often missing from current drug strategy – 'wraparound' or comprehensive support.

It is overwhelmingly accepted that effective care of drug users and community reintegration has to move the emphasis beyond just drug prescribing to include adequate aftercare and access to education, family, psychological, training, housing and wider medical support, including blood borne virus services.

Yet while limited– and some would say, faltering - progress has been made through labour market initiatives such as the New Futures Fund, many believe much more could be done to improve the wide range of opportunities required by drug users within local communities through regional partnerships and agencies working at ground level.

Topics for discussion will include…

• What do we mean by 'wraparound' or comprehensive services and support?
  
• What are the existing barriers - and opportunities - at a strategic level and for frontline services working with drug users to offer holistic support?
  
• What part can those working in the fields of specialist day services, employability, housing, family and children services, health and blood borne virus services play in developing future service provision?
  
• Are there examples of good practice in the above areas – and what can we learn from them?

This open event will be of particular interest to service users, service providers, policymakers and academics engaged in a wide range of fields engaging with problematic drug users.

For more information please contact:

Scottish Drugs Forum
91 Mitchell Street
Glasgow G1 3LN
Tel: 0141 221 1175Fax: 0141 248 6414
e-mail: enquiries@sdf.org.uk
www.sdf.org.uk