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Substance misuse

Related Links

Working together to reduce harm - substance misuse annual report 2012

Annual report on progress made to implement the substance misuse strategy.

Written Statement - Substance Misuse Review Programme

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Local Government and Communities

Overdose Awareness Day - December 13th

Overdose Awareness Day - December 13th
December 13th is a day to acknowledge individual loss and raise awareness of overdose prevention.

Evaluation of the Take Home Naloxone Demonstration Project

The Take Home Naloxone Demonstration Project involved provision of training for drug users and their families, and the issue of kits to opiate users.

Working together to reduce harm - The substance misuse strategy for Wales 2008-2018

Working Together to Reduce Harm The Substance Misuse Strategy for Wales 2008-2018
Aims to set out a clear national agenda for tackling and reducing the harms associated with substance misuse in Wales.

Drug Misuse and Dependence: Guidelines on Clinical Management

Drug Misuse and Dependence: Guidelines on Clinical Management
Guidelines intended for all clinicians, especially those providing pharmacological interventions for drug misusers as a component of drug misuse treatment.

Evaluation of Early Parental Intervention Pilot Projects

The research was an evaluation of five pilot projects providing interventions with parents who are substance misusers.
A variety of drugs.

'Working Together to Reduce Harm' is the Welsh Government’s ten year plan to tackle the problems caused by drugs and alcohol in Wales.  

The Strategy sets out our approach to tackling the full range of substances that are misused in Wales and covers:

  • alcohol
  • illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, LSD and cannabis
  • prescription only medicines (POM) such as anabolic steroids and
    benzodiazepines
  • over the counter medicines (OTC) such as preparations containing codeine
  • volatile substances such as aerosol propellants, butane, solvents and glues.

The Strategy has four areas for action:

  • Preventing harm - helping children, young people and adults resist or reduce substance misuse by providing information about the damage that substance misuse can cause to their health, their families and the wider community.
  • Supporting substance misusers - to improve their health and aid and maintain recovery thereby reducing the harm they cause themselves, their families and their communities.
  • Supporting families - reducing the risk of harm to children and adults as a consequence of the substance misusing behaviour of a family member.
  • Tackling availability and protecting individuals and communities - reducing the harms caused by substance misuse related crime and anti-social behaviour, by tackling the availability of illegal drugs and the inappropriate availability of alcohol and other substances.