Having just returned (in a state of post-conference mania fuelled by copious amounts of coffee and meeting loads of interesting folks) I have agreed to present something on this at the local shared care forum - just wondered if people would help me chose what to talk about by sharing their best/worst/most interesting moments of the conference.

I enjoyed the talk by Prof. Ling on Buprenorphine. I always like to hear things from the horses mouth and him saying that some of the original research gave a poor result because they treated it like methadone 'Start low, go slow' plus they'd been told 'Don't screw up'. Also he mentionned precipitated withdrawals and as I understand it he said treat it like any other withdrawals i.e. give them more Buprenorphine.
The other thing that stuck in my mind was the chap who after having a long and interesting drug career was raising money and support to get people dental implants, which he himself had got. I do get disilusionned by the dental care offerred to my patients and i'm sure it's must be the same in many areas. I think dental health should have a lok in at the RCGP and maybe it would be nice to hear from a dentist.
I talked to a Doctor at the conference who was struggling to find a dentist so what hope for the service users?.

Highlight for me Susi was listening to the 'debate' (tho I agreed with the point ?yours? that the motion was in two almost conflicting parts).
I was also very encouraged by the number of 'ex service users' who are now working in services.

what did you reckon to the debate Malcolm? I was very disappointed with Pat O'Hare. Bill was excellent. Neil McKeganney was better than I expected (I expected extremely bad things) and the guy from Carlton athletic was incomprehensible. The best points were mostly made from the floor. I never voted because I totally disagreed with the first part of the motion that harm reduction had failed to reduce harm the bit about more emphasis on abstinance was less clear cut. I was particularly mindful that we were in Scotland and many people were saying that all you could get there was methadone in which case the balence is wrong in Scotland and that was the country we were in. On the other hand I wasn't sure if I believed all the people that said this (especially prof McKeganney)

This sounds to have been an useful event. Are conference proceedings being published, on line if possible? Perhaps one of the attendees on this forum could produce a summary.

Hi Jim

I was looking foward to hearing Neil McKeganey, I had read several press articles by him in a news list I suscribe to & wanted to know if he was as cold hearted as he reads in print, so I was plesently suprised (you should read his letters to the Herald! I was uncomfotable with much of what he said but would like to hear him at length. Sometimes its good to be challenged by what we are uncomfy with
I was saddened that Pat used the 'Diabetic' arguement, for me its one of the less effective similies.
I agree with you, Bill Nelles was on top form, coherent, rational & strategic (as ever).
Carlton Athletic - no comment!

I did vote against the motion, but I do know that abstinance gets a fair hearing (certainly in Edinbourgh with Fiona Watsons & Malcolm Blacks teams). Likewise, Aberdeen has a good(I believe) service at the Foulton Clinic with Dr Andrew Robinson & his team which includes lomg term Pxing & abstinance.
I thought Micheal Watsons (I think - Glasgow GP) comments lacked objectivity.
The thing that was only touched on tho was the issue (for me) of 'What works/Horses for courses'etc.
Its a shame the motion was not constructed better, to say that Harm reduction has not worked is nonesence & Prof McKs use of the HIV/ACMD reference was no more helpful than Pat's Diabetic one.
May sound strange from someone leading an abstanance based service but "more emphasis on abstanance" - No for me more emphasis of identifying & meeting service user needs

Jim
keep an eye on exchange supplies

The proceedings are ussualy published quite quickley via this site.

Nice post about the Resources & Events ...This forum will give vast info about the events and resources...Thanks for your posting...
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simmons
Drud Addiction Treatment

Nice post about the Resources & Events ...This forum will give vast info about the events and resources...Thanks for your posting...
============================================
simmons
Drud Addiction Treatment