A DEVELOPMENT day focused on approaches to alcohol and drug support in Dumfries and Galloway will be informed by the lived experiences of those who have been affected.
The one-day event in Dumfries on June 28 has been organised by Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) – bringing together key stakeholders in person for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Penny Halliday is the independent chair of the ADP, and she said: “A large amount of work continues to take place right across our region to address the impact that alcohol and drugs have on people’s lives.
“We continue to see the sometimes devastating effects that alcohol and drugs can have, but a range of services in our region play vital roles providing direct support to individuals and their families, raising awareness of these issues and highlighting approaches that can help.
“We haven’t been able to organise an in-person event for some time, but feel we now have the opportunity to bring people together to share information and understanding, listen to the voices of people with lived experience and build on all of this work.”
The event is being organised in association with Figure 8, a health and social care agency with a team of researchers and associate consultants specialising in areas such as alcohol and drug use.
Objectives on the day include work around the roles and responsibilities of all Alcohol and Drug Partnership members, further improving working relationships and communication between partners, identifying challenges to effective working, suggesting solutions, identifying strategic objectives and listening to the views of people with lived experience.
Penny said: “Attending the event will be many of those working in this area within the region. However, very importantly we’re looking to support as many of those people who have lived experience of the effects of alcohol and drugs to take part in the event in a person-centred way.
“It’s vital that our approaches to alcohol and drugs, providing support and helping to prevent deaths is informed by those most directly affected, whether that’s people who have or have had issues with alcohol and drugs, their families and friends, or anyone with an involvement.
“Collaborative working is so important, as is raising awareness and improving everyone’s understanding of this as a public health issue affecting so many people within Dumfries and Galloway.
“Attendance is by invitation, and we hope that all those people who are being contacted and invited will be able to attend and contribute.
“In the meantime, we’d encourage anyone seeking information or support connected to alcohol or drugs to visit the website www.stopdgdrugdeaths.co.uk
“The website contains a great deal of information, including ways to make contact if wishing to speak to someone.”
