People deserve support, not punishment. #SupportDontPunish

Great day @scottishdrugsforum.bsky.social co-piloting @Paula Duffy delivering naloxone training for trainers to 11 residents who can then train their peers to be supplied naloxone prior to liberation. #StopTheDeaths

Our CEO, Kirsten Horsburgh, reflects on an impactful two years leading Scottish Drugs Forum. Read her thoughts and the full story here: sdf.org.uk/reflections-...

We’re hiring! After nearly 20 years of shaping Scotland’s approach to drug policy, Austin Smith is retiring and we’re looking for a new Head of Policy & Comms to take the lead at SDF. ➡️ Apply by 02.06 🗓 Interviews on 16.06 📍 Home-based with travel to Glasgow Full role info: sdf.org.uk/sdf-jobs/

Today, along with more than 70 other organisations, we are calling for the #ScottishGovernment to use the final year before the election to take urgent action on alcohol harm and implement our roadmap for delivery to reduce #AlcoholDeaths www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pxf... #AlcoholEmergency

@hepctrust.bsky.social @scottishdrugsforum.bsky.social

Excited to share this new publication from the @correlationnet.bsky.social, highlighting innovative harm reduction initiatives across Europe. Scotland’s ground-breaking peer naloxone program in prisons - delivered by SDF is featured as a case study.

It's was great to get in and connect with the 2 groups of naloxone peer champions @scottishprisons.bsky.social in HMP Dumfries. Great chat about how the model could be improved to #StopTheDeaths @scottishdrugsforum.bsky.social

The UN recognises Scotland's pioneering Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use See SDF's webinar with Professor Alan Miller who led the National Collaborative youtu.be/kL19e4rVqpc?...

BBC Scotland Disclosure documentary on the history of drug policy and service provision in Scotland including interview with SDF CEO Kirsten Horsburgh. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Scottish Drugs Forum is extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. sdf.org.uk/scottish-dru...

People have reported sudden collapse after injecting or smoking heroin, with a rapid onset of overdose. Further testing is underway to identify the specific drugs involved in these clusters #StopTheDeaths Read more information here: sdf.org.uk/.../03/SDF-O...

People have reported sudden collapse after injecting or smoking heroin, with a rapid onset of overdose. Further testing is underway to identify the specific drugs involved in these clusters.

During an overdose a person's lips, or fingertips, will turn blue (cyanosis) due to the lack of oxygen in the blood. If a person is unresponsive and has any other sign like: Snoring, Shallow Breathing, Pale Skin, Blue Lips or Pinpoint Pupils, call 999 immediately. #StopTheDeaths

When someone is experiencing an overdose the person’s skin will be pale or ashen and the person may also feel cold or sweaty to touch For more info visit stopthedeaths.com #StopTheDeaths

When someone is experiencing an overdose, they are dying because they cannot breathe due to drugs like opiates switching off this vital signal to the lungs. Shallow breathing means breaths can be reduced to 3-4 breaths per min instead of the usual 12-20 breaths. #StopTheDeaths

When someone is experiencing an overdose, they are unconscious and therefore completely unresponsive. When you try to wake them, an unresponsive person will not respond by speaking, opening their eyes or moving. For more info visit stopthedeaths.com #stopthedeaths

Would you recognise the signs of an overdose? If a person is unresponsive & has any other sign like: Snoring, Shallow Breathing, Pale Skin, Blue Lips or Pinpoint Pupils, they could be experiencing an overdose. Call 999 & administer naloxone. We CAN prevent drug deaths www.StopTheDeaths.com

The recording of our webinar 'Polysubstance Use and Cocaine: Engaging and Supporting People' is now available to watch on our YouTube💻 You can also access the presentation slides in the video description. Thanks again to our speakers & everyone who attended on Wednesday. Watch now buff.ly/GTcaMLC

We are recruiting now for the National Traineeship in the following areas: 📍Borders 📍Highland 📍North Lanarkshire Closing date: Monday 17th March 2025 For more information or to apply: buff.ly/19dMM6L

Few spaces left for Alcohol Awareness in March Designed & delivered by SDF, funded by Glasgow HSCP & ADP. ✅ Alcohol use in Scotland ✅ Unit content & low-risk drinking guidelines ✅ Reasons why people drink ✅ Effects & costs of alcohol use ✅ Key resources & support services Sign up buff.ly/3oX76GL

Trish, one of our Senior Learning & Development Officers, completed CRAFFT training and Multiple Risk with school nurses recently in Glasgow. These important courses, developed & delivered by SDF & funded by Glasgow HSCP & ADP, are making a positive impact in the community. Well done to everyone👏

🚨EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW🚨 Scottish Drugs Forum’s annual #StopTheDeaths conference returns in 2025 with a two-day event dedicated to reducing drug-related deaths & harms 📅 27th & 28th August 📍Radisson Blu Glasgow For more info & to grab your discounted Early Bird tickets: buff.ly/3Czb3wB

Nitazenes have been found in heroin & benzodiazepines supplied in Scotland and may be present in other drugs including cocaine. Nitazenes are potent drugs and can cause overdose and death on their own or in combination with other drugs. View the full suite of resources here: buff.ly/3Q65Lvw

Nitazenes have been found in heroin & benzodiazepines supplied in Scotland and may be present in other drugs including cocaine. Nitazenes are potent drugs and can cause overdose and death on their own or in combination with other drugs. View the full suite of resources here: buff.ly/3Q65Lvw

SDF can be commissioned to produce & deliver bespoke training. We can: 💡Develop training designed to meet the needs of your organisation or group 💡Deliver training exclusively to a group of staff at your organisation 💡Adapt the content of existing training or make bespoke content buff.ly/413TkXo

The recording of 'Young People and Drugs: Early Intervention & Harm Prevention' is available to watch on our YouTube channel 💻 You can also access Winning Scotland's presentation slides from the video description. Thanks again to our speakers & everyone who attended on Wednesday! buff.ly/3Q84zI9

We are Hiring! 📣 We are pleased to be recruiting SVQ Assessors and Internal Verifiers (Freelance) as part of our SDF SVQ Centre. For more information on the job roles and how to apply please follow the link below 👇🏼 buff.ly/3KYyn7l

Yesterday we attended @drnscot.bsky.social 'Meaningful Engagement with Community Stakeholders in Research' event where Samantha our Research & Peer Engagement Senior Officer presented on how to support meaningful involvement of people with lived & living experience. Thanks again for inviting us!

We're delighted to be joining partners & the local community in Fort William & Milton to promote community support & improve access to treatment for those affected by alcohol and other drug use. Hope you can join us! Tickets: Fort William buff.ly/4hwG8zG Milton buff.ly/3Eq7BEN

The third of Scottish Drugs Forum’s Winter Webinar series 'Polysubstance use and cocaine: Engaging and supporting people' 📅Wednesday 26 February ⏰13.00 – 14.15 📍Zoom Click the link to find out more information and to register for the webinar: sdf.org.uk/event/polysu... 💻

Great couple of naloxone awareness sessions at Queen Margaret University today. 36 students and 2 lecturers attended. @scottishdrugsforum.bsky.social partnering with CGL Edinburgh, everyone left with a kit and can help #StoptheDeaths

📣SAVE THE DATE📣 📅27 & 28 August 📍Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow To mark IOAD, we are hosting a 2 day event focusing on living experience perspectives, democratic policy development, improving service provision and practice to reduce deaths and other drug-related harms. More info coming soon ⏰

We are Hiring! 📣 We are pleased to be recruiting a Coordination and Development Officer as part of our National Traineeship team. For more information and to apply please click the link below. Deadline: 3rd February 2025 at 5pm Apply at: sdf.org.uk/sdf-jobs/

The second of Scottish Drugs Forum’s Winter Webinar series 'Young People and Drugs - Early Interventions and Harm Prevention' 📅Wednesday 29 January ⏰13.00 – 14.15 📍Zoom Click the link to find out more information and to register for the webinar: buff.ly/42fTtrY 💻

On our most recent episode of Drugs Uncut, we were joined by Dr Saket Priyadarshi & Gillian Ferguson to discuss the background to delivering the UK's first drug consumption room - the issues it will address; how it's been designed & delivered and how its impacts will be evaluated. buff.ly/3ZwYRUe

The UK’s first official drug consumption room, The Thistle, has held a formal launch event at its Glasgow premises. Scottish Drugs Forum has long advocated for such services and welcomes this development. Read our CEO Kirsten Horsburgh's statement here: sdf.org.uk/safer-drug-c...

SDF's Mariebeth & SFAD's Kim Klufas attended the Promising Practice Conference hosted by @policescotland.bsky.social Together they ran a Naloxone stall which was a great success as they trained many attendees on the day. Every person trained is potentially another life saved #StopTheDeaths

@drnscot.bsky.social are hosting an event on 29th Jan from 12pm-3pm in Edinburgh to discuss 'Meaningful Engagement with Community Stakeholders in Research', SDF's Samantha Stewart will be presenting at this event on behalf of our Peer Research Team. buff.ly/41HrxN2

We have very limited spaces left for our upcoming Ketamine Awareness training which will take place on Thursday 16th January! The training is free and you can register here: buff.ly/3DHlv57

I want to say a massive thank you to my lovely friend @steelewez.bsky.social at @scottishdrugsforum.bsky.social for sending me this bag of goodies. It’s not just the message on the shirt that reminds me we’re all in this together ♥️ #TogetherWeCan #StopTheDeaths

The recording of our webinar 'Do The Right Thing: Delivering The Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use' is now available to watch on our YouTube channel 💻 Thanks again to our speakers and everyone who attended on Wednesday. Watch here: buff.ly/4iGzxnJ

Our SDF team of Naloxone trainers have trained 694 people in 2024 to administer life-saving Naloxone 👏🏼 Every person trained is potentially another life saved. Well done to everyone who has been part of this! #StopTheDeaths

Prof Alan Miller welcomes The First Minister and the UN Commissioner to launch the #CharterOfRights Make sure you don't miss our webinar on the Charter of Rights next Wednesday, sign up here: buff.ly/4fQcEfL

1 week to go until our webinar on The Charter of Rights 💻 A reminder that when you RSVP on our website, please follow the Zoom link in the email you receive to complete registration for the event ✔️ You can RSVP here: buff.ly/4fQcEfL

@steelewez.bsky.social and @emir-t.bsky.social from our Peer Naloxone team will be at the Scottish Public Service Awards tonight as they have been shortlisted for The Campbell Christie Public Service Reform Award 🥳 Good luck from all of the SDF team! buff.ly/3YSTvnp

'Glasgow - Delivering the UK's first Drug Consumption Room' new Drugs Uncut episode out now🎙️ We were joined by Dr Saket Priyadarshi & Gillian Ferguson to discuss delivering the UK's first drug consumption room - the issues it will address; how it has been designed & delivered. buff.ly/3ZhLfMH

Registrations for our webinar 'Do The Right Thing: Delivering The Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use' are now live💻 You can RSVP here: buff.ly/4fQcEfL After you RSVP, you'll receive an email with a Zoom link. Please follow this link to complete the registration process on Zoom

🚨SAVE THE DATE 🚨 The Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use will be launched next week & we'll be hosting a webinar on 18th December to discuss the charter in more detail. ⏰1pm-2pm 📍Zoom Registration will be going live soon so keep an eye on our socials to sign up!

This is what one of our graduates had to say about their time working with us on the National Traineeship 👇🏼 Are you ready to take the next step? Apply now using the link below: buff.ly/3OprrCd