Strength in Solidarity: Summary of the 27th Harm Reduction International Conference

In 2021, OnPoint NYC opened the first sanctioned overdose prevention centers, or OPCs, in the U.S. Since then, they've reversed hundreds of overdoses and connected thousands of people with addiction services and social supports, including voluntary treatment. We spoke with OnPoint's staff to learn how OPCs are saving lives.

The Drug Policy Alliance is building a world without the drug war where people who use drugs are supported, not punished. We’re building a world where drug policy is grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights https://drugpolicy.org/

Language Matters: Conversations about alcohol and other drugs

In this short film, INHSU video delve into the topic of stigma and discrimination and discuss the important role of language.

The International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) is a global membership organisation dedicated to improving the health of people who use drugs, with a specific focus on hepatitis C, infectious diseases, and harms that can occur from drug use www.inhsu.org.

Strength in Solidarity: Summary of the 27th Harm Reduction International Conference

Drug Reporter have produced a 14 minute video report from the #HR23 conference. Filmed in Melbourne at the International Harm Reduction Conference between 16th and 19th April 2023. https://drogriporter.hu/en/strength-in-solidarity

'We are grateful to the Aboriginal owners and custodians of the land on which we could attend this wonderful conference - and we consider ourselves privileged to interview so many participants in such a short time. All of the activists and professionals we interviewed are doing a wonderful job in their countries to replace drug policies based on fear and lies with drug policies based on love and respect...'

IMS Drug Related Deaths Conference 2023

The Public Health Institute Drug Related Deaths Conference 2023 took place online on Thursday 16th March. The day was split into five sessions, with presentations and Q&A sessions from 14 great speakers. Over 700 people attended online, a big thank you to everyone to attended, presented, and contributed during the day.

Links for PDF copies of presentations from the day are now available on the event page, as well as this recording from the morning sessions. There was some great discussion and networking taking place in the chat area, so we've shared some notes from this too: DRD event page.

Not My First Rodeo

Homeless people are far more likely to have sustained a traumatic brain injury than the rest of the population, and these injuries mostly happen before they become homeless.

In 2015, researchers from the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the Head Injuries Rehabilitation Centre, Sheffield, conducted interviews with a group of homeless men who had sustained brain injury. view YouTube page.

PHI Intelligence and Surveillance systems

A demonstration showing two of the monitoring systems developed by the Public Health Intelligence Unit. Trauma and Injury Intelligence Group (TIIG) has been used to create 'Violence Reduction Data Hubs'. The Integrated Monitoring System (IMS) incorporates a Drug Related Deaths review system.

IMS Drug Related Deaths Conference 2021

The IMS Drug Related Deaths annual conference 2021 took place as a Microsoft Teams Webinar on Thursday 2nd December with over 200 participants joining online. We were joined at the conference by a number of speakers including activist and campaigner Peter Krykant talking about the work in Glasgow with his pioneering drug consumption van alongside his new role with the charity Cranstoun, and heard from Anyone’s Child, the campaign by Transform Drug Policy Foundation to “end the war on drugs, better protect our children, and get drugs under control.”

For details of speakers and links to their presentations please see the DRD event page.

IMS User group event 2021

Our 2021 IMS annual user group event took place online as a Microsoft Teams Webinar on the morning of Thursday 21st October 2021. The IMS event, attended by service providers and commissioners for all Local Authority areas across Cheshire and Merseyside, focussed on the impact of Covid-19 on IMS reporting services around Cheshire and Merseyside.

For details of speakers and links to their presentations please see the IMS event page.

Drug deaths in England and Wales highest since records began

Channel 4 News - August 2021: Drug-related deaths in England and Wales have reached an all-time high - with many of the deaths caused by opiates including heroin.

Charities are calling it a public health emergency. They say addiction problems have been made even worse by the Covid crisis while cuts in funding means support is often not there for those who need it. Although because of delays in registering deaths - most will have actually happened before the pandemic began. https://youtu.be/sD8cQya-dQ4

Cheshire and Merseyside Drug Related Deaths Conference 2020

The 2020 Cheshire & Merseyside Drug Related Deaths area-wide event took place as an online event on Thursday 26th November 2020. The event which took place virtually via Zoom was recorded and is available to watch here.

For more information about the event including speakers and presentations please go to the 2020 DRD event page.

People Before Politics: Summary of the 2019 International Harm Reduction Conference

ITV News - August 2019: Drug-related deaths in England and Wales are the highest they have been since records began more than a quarter of a century ago, official figures show.

There were 4,359 deaths from drug poisoning recorded in England and Wales in 2018 – the highest number since records began in 1993, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The official body said it was also the highest annual increase since records began, rising 16% (603 deaths) from 2017. Deaths involving cocaine doubled over the three years to 2018, reaching their highest ever level. https://youtu.be/SGbaVsfb1qU

People Before Politics: Summary of the 2019 International Harm Reduction Conference

Drug Reporter have produced an 8 minute video report from the #HR19 conference, interviewing participants from various parts of the world about key issues discussed at the event.

Filmed in Porto at the International Harm Reduction Conference between 28th April and 1st May 2019. https://drogriporter.hu/en/hr2019

How alcohol care changes lives

For Catherine Maxwell, from Liverpool, it is the little things that count - like just waking up in the morning and not having a hangover.

But with the support she received from the alcohol care team at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, she discovered the advantages of not drinking.

https://www.bbc.co.uk

Opiod drug use: Is the UK on the verge of a crisis?

The use and abuse of opioid drugs - ranging from painkillers to heroin - is on the rise in the UK, particularly in deprived parts of northern England.

Some 24 million opioid drugs were prescribed last year, up 10 million in a decade, and that the means the UK has the third-fastest use of them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk

At The Heart of the Response: Reunion of the International Harm Reduction Movement

Watch Drug Reporter's conference movie and learn more about the key issues highlighted at the Harm Reduction International Conference in Montreal, 14-17 May 2017. https://drugreporter.net/hr17

Taking a new line on drugs

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) are calling for measures aimed at moving UK drugs strategy away from a predominantly criminal justice approach towards one based on public health and harm reduction. www.rsph.org.uk

Drug safety testing

Around one in 12 adults took illicit drugs in 2016, with many of these being consumed at summer festivals. However, a drug safety testing pilot at two UK festivals saw almost one in five users dispose of their drugs once they were aware of the content, and the scheme is being rolled out to more festivals in 2017. This video from the RSPH features drug safety testing and harm reduction from The Loop. https://wearetheloop.org/

Drug Policy reform

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) are calling for measures aimed at moving UK drugs strategy away from a predominantly criminal justice approach towards one based on public health and harm reduction. They came to Liverpool to find out what people thought about existing drugs policy. www.rsph.org.uk

What causes addiction? Easy, right? Drugs cause addiction. But maybe it is not that simple.

This video is adapted from Johann Hari's New York Times best-selling book 'Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs.' For more information, and to take a quiz to see what you know about addiction, go to www.chasingthescream.com

Edit: Please note on 03/03/19 Kurzgesagt removed the Addiction video from their YouTube channel, while it presents a valid view they acknowledge that it is too simplistic and doesn't include a range of alternative sources, they've explained this here: Can You Trust Kurzgesagt Videos?

Improve and Protect; RSPH explores public health challenges across the UK

An excerpt from the programme 'Improve and Protect' produced by RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health) and ITN Productions, this extract features monitoring systems provided by the Public Health Institute (formerly the Centre for Public Health) including IMS.

The full programme and further details about RSPH can be found on here: www.rsph.org.uk

LJMU’s Public Health Institute, a brief introduction

Helping communities overcome the key public health challenges they are facing today; violence; addictions; sexual health and surveillance. With this brief introductory video you can discover more about LJMU’s Public Health Institute in under a minute: www.ljmu.ac.uk/phi

The work of LJMU’s Public Health Institute

Helping communities overcome the key public health challenges they are facing today; violence; addictions; sexual health and surveillance. Find out more about the work of LJMU’s Public Health Institute: www.ljmu.ac.uk/phi

Study Environmental Health or Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University

Think you have what it takes to be at the frontline health and safety? Hear from students on what it’s like to study Environmental Health and Public Health at LJMU. Field trips to fish markets, housing inspections, food safety hygiene - if you got high standards for the health, safety and well being of the general public and local communities, then discover more at LJMU’s Public Health Institute: www.ljmu.ac.uk/phi

This is Liverpool John Moores University

In 1823 a small institution was founded that was to revolutionise education in Liverpool and provide opportunities for the working people of the city. Today, with a vibrant community of 25,000 students from over 100 countries world-wide, 2,500 staff and 250 degree courses, Liverpool John Moores University is one of the largest, most dynamic and forward-thinking universities in the UK. www.ljmu.ac.uk

MSc International Public Health - Shraddha's story

Moving to a new city can be scary. Recently, LJMU caught up with Shraddha – one of the Public Health Institute students who studied MSc International Public Health – to find out what moving away from home is really like. www.ljmu.ac.uk/campaigns/shradda