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blogs and news


Dr Ed Day’s optimism for the future of Recovery Systems
Dr Ed Day addresses the importance of building a partnership between professionals and people with lived experience in overcoming addiction.
4 min read


Ben Parker: A Service User Story
Former service user, and now a peer mentor, Ben Parker shares his story of drug addiction and recovery.
2 min read


Stockport Pathfinder uses data to make inroads on best practice for Hep C U Later programme
Work undertaken by the Pathfinder Stockport at the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust drives forward best practice for Hep C Later programme.
3 min read


The problem in dual diagnosis
We need to look at why individuals living with an addiction and a co-existing mental health disorder easily slip through the system.
5 min read


Spending Review 2020 prioritises those impacted by COVID-19
Following the release of the Government's one-year Spending Review, the NHS APA supports the outlined plans for investment in public health.
2 min read


Are you worried about a family member’s drinking?
Anyone can develop a dependency on alcohol and it can be very difficult watching someone you care about struggle to control their drinking.
4 min read


Gambling Health Alliance calls for paid-for loot boxes to be classed as gambling
A survey conducted by the GHA found that 75 percent of young gamers believe buying a loot box is bad for their health.
4 min read


Nicola Dalton from Achieve: A Service User Story
As part of AAW 2020 Nicola shares her experience of addiction services which in turn led her to volunteer with Achieve, part of GMMH.
3 min read


Alcohol Awareness Week 2020: Looking at Alcohol and Mental Health
The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Alcohol and mental health'.
2 min read


Find A New Happy Hour: Manage Your Drinking Habits and Improve Your Mental Wellbeing
Many of us use alcohol as a short term strategy to improve our mood. Here are four ways you can boost your mental health without drinking.
2 min read


Designing a family support service within a wider treatment service
1 in 3 claim that they have been impacted by the substance misuse of a family member.
3 min read


Staying Alive: Reviving The NHS Inpatient Detox Provision
Members of the NHS Inpatient Network continue to call for urgent action to save the last remaining NHS IPUs in England.
3 min read


Record rise in drug deaths in England & Wales highlights urgency to review funding
The number of drug-related deaths has reached a record-high in England and Wales, as drug treatment services funding continues to decrease.
4 min read


NHS Inpatient Detox Units Face Closure Without Urgent Funding Reform
The five remaining NHS inpatient detox units (IPUs) in England could permanently close without urgent changes to the way they are funded.
5 min read


Matt Zarb-Cousin: How My Gambling Addiction Drew Me Into Activism
30 year old Matt Zarb-Cousin is a recovered gambling addict, turned activist, lobbying for reform to gambling legislation.
4 min read


Take 20 to Talk about Mental Health this #WorldMentalHealthDay
NHS APA members, Inclusion, use in-house mental health expertise to support staff during Covid-19 pandemic.
3 min read


How the Covid-19 pandemic is fast-tracking the move to digital platforms within addiction services
Social distancing measures mean that digital technology is playing an increasingly vital role in the delivery of treatment.
3 min read


NHS Inpatient Units: A Service User Story
Patryk, a service user, describes his story of recovery and why he believes it is essential that we #KeepTheFewNHSIPUs
4 min read


#KeepTheFewNHSIPUs Messages of Support
Read messages of support for the #KeepTheFewNHSIPUs and pledge your support for the campaign.
7 min read


Download: Presenter slides from the 2020 NHS APA Virtual Conference
Download presenter slides from the virtual conference.
1 min read
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