Latest News
Where to get needle exchange
Details of Needle Exchange Outlets in Edinburgh
Alcohol Funding bids - download application form Funding App and guidance notes Guidance Notes
September 08 Action Team Newsletter
Latest news including Action Team Response to Alcohol Consultation in September Newsletter
Aug 08 Action Team produces new drug posters in 'text Urdu'
Statement from Vice Chair on Drug Related Deaths
See statement Drug Deaths Statement August 2008 final.doc
July 08 Action Team Newsletter
Latest news on new drug strategy for Scotland, National Consultation on Alcohol and a welcome from the new Chair, Peter Gabbitas in July newsletter
Road to Recovery: Scotland's new drugs strategy
Chemical Romance
The results are released for Scotland's first mobile phone messaging campaign on cocaine - and they are good! Read
Chemical Romance press release here
May 08 Action Team Newsletter
Update on alcohol funding and sex worker funds in May newsletter
Tom Wood, Chair of Action Team's Announced Departure in May 08
March 08 Newsletter
Update on departure of Tom Wood, Chair of Action Team, 'Acceptance' alcohol play and needle exchange programmes in March newsletter
January 08 Action Team Newsletter
Read about Action Team work during 06/07. The
Annual Report 06/07 is only available electronically.
Action Team Newsletter for November 07
For information on our Boozy Betty campaign, alcohol initiatives in south Edinburgh, an update from the last Action Team meeting, Fast Forward's meeting with Kenny MacAskill MSP, the SAADAT conference during Alcohol Awareness Week and 'Unight', a nightclub initative addressing drugs and anti-social behaviour. Find out more here >
Boozy Betty Campaign launched targeting female students - October 07
The Action Team together with Heriot Watt University has unveiled a new intiative, 'Boozy Betty' aimed at tackling alcohol abuse on campus amongst female students. Read the final report of the project. View the poster, information leaflet and catch-up card produced for students.
Update for City of Edinburgh Council's Health, Social Care and Housing Committee - October 07
Six monthly update from Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh on our work. Find out more here
Drug Deaths for Scotland - figures just released
Action Team Newsletter for July/August 07
For an update on: health promotion work on alcohol taking place at the Mela, latest drug trends, drug deaths, Edinburgh's joining an international network, PrePare's shortlisting for a Eurocities Award, Action Team Finance and training and events. Find out more
here >
Action Team Newsletter for May/June 07
Find out more about the latest SALSUS Report on youth drinking and substance misuse, mandatory drug testing of prisoners, the new educational resource on personal safety for school children launched in Edinburgh, the latest on methylamphetamine and an update from the Alcohol Action Group. Read on
here >
Action Team Newsletter for April 07
Get the latest update on the Passport Initiative, the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drugs Strategy, the Female Alcohol and Drug Users Short Term Working Group, our User Involvement Group, the Rock Trust's Underground Cafe for Young People, Sacro's Positive Community Practice award, Streetwork and the latest Training and Events. Find out more
here >
Action Team Newsletter for March 07
Find out what we have been up
here >Progress report from the Action Team Feb 07
Read the latest quarterly report from the Action Team
here>
Edgy and Quirky Adverts from Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh and NHS Lothian in Metro newspaper - Dec 2006
Read details of our Christmas campaign in the Metro newspaper, in partnership with NHS Lothian. A series of quirky and edgy adverts targeting young women and challenging them to think about how they drink will run week commencing 11th December. See press release for more details.
See Monday's Metro advert here >
Action Team Newsletter - November 2006
Details of PrePare - pregnancy support team for substance misusing mothers, stocktaking review of the Action Team, Christmas campaigns planned by the Scottish Executive and training and events. Read more here > Abstinence Funding News - October 2006
Edinburgh receives £800k to pilot an abstinence project in Edinburgh. Read more >
Action Team Newsletter - October 2006
Take a look at our revamped newsletter with news on the Harbour Project, Kinsfolk Carers Project, Low Threshold Methadone Programme and recent decisions and news from the Action Team and its subgroups. Read more here >
Drug Deaths in Lothian - August 2006
Read our statement on drug death figures in Lothian
here >Action Team Newsletter - June 2006
Council Approved Quarterly Update from Action Team
The City of Edinburgh Council approved the quarterly report from Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh today (29th June 2006). Details of achievements and what still remains to be done can be found here >
Quarterly Report from Action Team - Press Release 290606
Press release for Quarterly Report can be found here >
Single Shared Assessment Press Release
Details of the pilot study of single shared assessment to be trialled in north Edinburgh can be found here >
May 06 - May Action Team Newsletter
For the latest update from the Action Team, please find the May Action Team Newsletter
May 06 Daily Dose - Associate Sponsor
Daily Dose is a truly global information service providing the very latest news and updates on article, reports, trends and jobs connected with substance misuse from all over the world. Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh is an associate sponsor of Daily Dose.
May 06 - PrePare - New Pregnancy Support Team for Drug Addicted Mothers in Edinburgh
Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh has announced the establishment of a specialist pregnancy support team for drug addicted mothers. This roving support unit will be up and running in July.
Full details on the project can be found here >
April 06 - Needle Bins in Cemetries
Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh is pleased to annouce the introduction of needle bins in two of the city centre's cemetries.
The bins, which have been placed in St. Cuthbert's and the Canongate Cemetries, are part of a pilot study to control the number of discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia that have been found in these areas. If successful, then the project may be rolled out to other parts of the city.
The project was initiated by the Action Team, and the bins have been installed with the co-operation and assistance of the City of Edinburgh Council's Environmental & Consumer Services, community drugs projects and Lothian & Borders Police.
The bins are part of a multi-pronged approach to addressing the city's drug problems, which also include producing materials and pamphlets.
April 06 - April Action Team Newsletter
For the latest update from the Action Team, please find the April Action Team Newsletter
Review of Alcohol and Drugs approved by City of Edinburgh Council 23/02/06
The review and proposals for the restructuring of Edinburgh's alcohol and drug agencies were formally approved by the City of Edinburgh's Full Council today. Link here for a copy of the
press release and the
report.
In summary:
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Alcohol and drug services will be delivered in Localities - there will be five in the city. These are North, East, South, South West and West.
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The boundaries will follow those of the Community Health Partnerships.
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Services will also include extended hours and weekend services to fit in better with clients needs.
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A broader range of treatments and interventions will be on offer.
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Enhanced performance monitoring will contribute to a better level and standard of services throughout the city.
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Funding from the Action team will be granted on a 3-year basis, allowing for agencies to plan their services and staffing on a more security footing.
Film on Spiked Drinks Launched 1/12/05
Pregnancy & Parenting - Dec 05
The Scottish Executive has awarded £103k to the Action Team to develop a specialist pregnancy and parenting support team for those with substance misuse problems.
The team will focus on the care of the newborn from a child protection perspective, and the care of the pregnant woman/parents from a substance use perspective based on ‘harm minimisation’. The Children & Families Dept. is leading on this.
Information for Parents - Dec 06
An initiative between Fast Forward and the Action Team to facilitate information for parents on alcohol and drugs has been awarded £7k from the Scottish Executive.
Six evening sessions of information/education will be offered in selected schools across the city in the Spring. Secondary schools and parents/teachers associations will be contacted directly with an outline programme; and residents/tenants associations and community groups will also be used as a means of attracting parents to these sessions. More information on the project is available from
Alastair@fastforward.org.uk
New IT System - Dec 06
The Action Team was successful in its bid for £61k of funding for a new information sharing system. This should allow us to develop a co-ordinated approach to gathering performance information, and will reduce duplication of effort and the burden on all partners.
A range of IT packages for developing a new co-ordinated system for gathering performance monitoring information, is currently being considered, and it is hoped to have the new system up and running in the next financial year.
University Partnership - Nov 06
Edinburgh University has now agreed in principle to a collaborative research agreement with us. We are keen to encourage an active relationship between research and practice. Further details will be available in January.
Licensing Standards Initiative
The Alcohol Action Group launched the Edinburgh Licensing Standards Initiative on 5th December. A partnership between the Council, the Police, the Fire and Rescue Service and City Centre Management Group; it will initially run as a pilot in the Grassmarket/Cowgate area, and then be expanded across the whole of the city in time for the new licensing legislation coming into force, scheduled for 2006.
Licensing Standards Officers will inspect and assess licensed premises for good management and best practice, and refer cases of bad practice back to the Licensing Board.
A first in Scotland, this reflects the Nicholson Committee’s recommendations on tackling alcohol related problems and anti-social behaviour. Further information is available from
Nathalie.hoy@edinburgh.gov.uk
Edinburgh Lecture by Ethan Nadelmann, 1st November
In association with Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Lectures series presented international drug policy expert, Ethan Nadelmann, of the Drug Policy Alliance, USA.
To hear his lecture again, download from the links below.