This is such an important & emotional picture for me. Getting framed. The Mwud posters & campaign would not have existed without the visit to Metzineres meeting their awesome team & spending time with the Superstar titan Aura
Womxn inspiring Womxn. Thank you 😍🫶

I'll be on BBC Radio Scotland this morning around 7.35am to discuss UK Home Affairs recommendations which include introduction of an Overdose Prevention Centre in #Glasgow

This should happen across the UK ASAP, Cranstoun are ready to deliver them.
www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co…

Ahead of #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay tomorrow & spending last two days in Denmark I'm overwhelmed by the response here, so many lives saved, drug users unions, street lawyers, all pulling together. I imagine my country having this response & not suffering as we do 💔

Whenever the evidence is properly consulted, the sensible pragmatic response includes OPCs, DAT, diversion…

Good to see the launch of the HASC report today. Recommendations we can get on & deliver right now with government backing

news.sky.com/story/safe-pla…

Looking forward to talking to Kait Borsay tonight at 0905 on Times Radio about providing safe spaces for people who use drugs

news.sky.com/story/safe-pla…

1 of Cranstoun’s key recommendations in response to the emergent UK synthetics crisis is #drugchecking .
Why? It:-
* Monitors markets
* Identifies adulterants
* Informs EWS
* Measures extent of market mis-selling
* Reaches hidden populations
* Engages directly
* Reduces harm

Some key advice for today #IOAD23

If you're using opiates, OST can be a layer of protection from going over.

If you're on a script, you are less likely to overdose; if you do, you are less likely to die.

Methadone & buprenorphine are widely available. Think of getting it 🧡

A candid review of the drug situation in the U.K. with wide reaching recommendations. Great to see support for DAT and OPC among other important harm reduction interventions in this report

Today we have published our report on Drugs.
📃Our report: committees.parliament.uk/publications/4…
📃 Summary: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmse…
📃 Conclusions and recommendations for Government: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmse…

Please check out our Cranstoun recommendations to address rising synthetic opioid contamination of the drug supply chain ⬇️

🤝We’ve teamed up with other drug alcohol and services to share a number of important messages ahead of Overdose Awareness Day

🧍Our second message? Avoid using drugs alone and stagger your doses

📱If you do use drugs alone. Use the BuddyUp app

cranstoun.org/buddyup

As well as highlighting the dangers of synthetic drugs sharing this post is also a call to Suella Braverman MP the UK Home Office & Government to take immediate action & implement Overdose Prevention Sites, Drug Checking & Safe Supply, every share is appreciated & important 👇

A reminder that our BuddyUp supporters are here to help you stay safe tomorrow evening as normal (bank holiday Monday) 🔊

PS, we’re also working hard to expand BuddyUp’s opening hours so keep your eyes out for changes to this!

Cranstoun #BuddyUp

For the 2nd day of #IOAD23 lead up:

🤗AVOID USING ALONE
Try not to use drugs alone & MAKE SURE your friends aren't alone either.

⏳STAGGER YOUR DOSES IF YOU CAN
If one person takes their hit first, wait until the peak effects have worn off before the other person uses.

📢 Urgent - please share & pass around networks.

Confirmed reports of nitazines in the UK - a powerful drug that can be 100s of times stronger than heroin.

Know someone who uses drugs? Talk to them abt not using alone & carrying Naloxone.

More Info 👇
cranstoun.org/news/contamina…

In light of Scotland’s drug death figures, I wrote in Politics.co.uk for Cranstoun on the need to guard against complacency.

The emergence of nitazenes is extremely alarming, Scot and UK Govs must urgently tackle potential public health emergency.

politics.co.uk/comment/2023/0…

“I’m fifteen years into recovery. I have helped hundreds of other doctors who were addicted, - - - I’ve come to realize that it is the criminalization of drugs more than the drugs themselves, that causes most our problems.” ⁦Peter Grinspoon, M.D.⁩ ⁦⁦ time.com/6307593/legal-…

I no longer identify as a person in recovery. I have decided that my participation in abstinence culture, even on a personal level, is stigmatizing and causes harm.

After legal regulation there will still be drug-related harm like ODs and BBVs. Some will still choose fentanyl over opium. Some will still prefer alcohol to cannabis. Harm will be minimized not eliminated because humans vary from risk-averse to risk-loving, and accidents happen.