Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol Drug Partnership along with Crew 2000 are organising four awareness courses throughout the region on New Psychoactive Substances. The purpose of the courses is to enable local professionals to define new drugs, identify the impact of new drugs and trends in drug use, identify the typical effects and side effects of the key substances in use, highlight the legal issues surrounding NPS and identify techniques to work with users, including harm reduction. The courses are half day and are being held in Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Stranraer and will be attended by a range of different agencies who require information on New Psychoactive Substances.
The training is being provided by Vikki Craik from Crew 2000 who states “This training is a half-day interactive presentation which introduces you to some of the most commonly used new psychoactive substances and gives information on how to identify legality and provide harm reduction advice to those who may take substances.”
Dr Andrew Carnon, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol Partnership said “The use of New Psychoactive Substances is having a significant impact on most agencies including my own at the NHS. It affects a wide range of agencies from the general practitioner to the consultant at the emergency department. We fully welcome such courses which will allow attendees to enhance their knowledge of the potential impact of these substances and assist us in identifying the problematic issues to services and users throughout of region.”
Chief Superintendent Mike Leslie, Police Scotland said “Dumfries and Galloway like many parts of Scotland is being affected by the use of New Psychoactive Substances. Police Scotland is looking at targeting the importers, retailers, and street dealers of these substances. We recognise we cannot solve issues connected with New Psychoactive Substances in isolation and understand the importance of working with all our partners. We welcome these localised conferences and hope this contributes to addressing some of the issues associated with the use of New Psychoactive Substances and substance use in general.”
Detective Constable Scott Jardine, Substance Misuse Coordinator for Dumfries and Galloway Division of Police Scotland said “We are holding four training events in Dumfries and Galloway. These have proved overwhelmingly popular and are massively oversubscribed. As such we are looking to organise additional events in early 2016.”
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of New Psychoactive Substances, both nationally and locally, and allow services to combine and address any potentially issues collectively.
The events are as follows:-
Cornwall Mount, Dumfries 3 November 20115 9.30am-12.30pm
Cornwall Mount, Dumfries 3 November 2015 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Council Chambers, Daer Road 4 November 2015 9.30am – 12.30pm
Kirkcudbright
Turning Point Scotland, Burns 4 November 2015 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Centre, Stranraer
Graeme Wellburn
28.10.15
