16. Autism and addiction - episode 2 (23:04)
In this two-part podcast the SSA's Rob Calder explores autism and addiction. He talks to  from the SABAA: Substance use, Alcohol and Behavioural addictions in Autism project that’s been funded by the SSA. In this second episode we explore treatment, policy and future research in relation to autism and addiction. We start by talking about the importance of co-producing publicity materials for addiction treatment services using universal design principles. Personalisation is always important and ever more so when working with autistic people, thus underlining the importance of involving autistic people in service design.We talk about the experience and expectations that autistic people might have when attending addiction treatment services, and why retention may not mean what you think it means. We then talk about the work of the SABAA project in identifying the gaps in our understanding of autism and addiction. The team talks about conducting a Delphi process and working out what the priorities are for policy, practice and research.They then discuss some of the problems with funding something that is often considered a niche issue within autism and addiction fields.“Things that are autism friendly will also be good quality for other people… By being autism friendly [promotion materials] are more likely to be more accessible by other people too” - Professor Julia Sinclair “With CBT you need to rate things, and some [autistic] people say to me ‘I don’t like rating things. I prefer having colour, blue means this, yellow means that’. They’re different things that mean something to them” - Dr Janine Robinson “The NHS has really changed in that sense, there’s still more work to do, but we’re seeing lived experience become part of the clinical models to a greater extent which is a good thing.” - Professor Sam Chamberlain“ The neurology and basis of autism are poorly understood and then you have the neurological factors of addiction and compulsion, and trying to reconcile and differentiate those things is a really complex question”. 

15. Autism and addiction - episode 1 (21:01)
In this two-part podcast, the SSA's Rob Calder explores autism and addiction. He talks to Professors Julia Sinclair and Sam Chamberlain, Dr Janine Robinson and Chris Torry from the SABAA: Substance use, Alcohol and Behavioural addictions in Autism project that’s been funded by the SSA. In this first episode, we look at how symptoms of behavioural and substance addictions can overlap with autism and how this can complicate diagnoses for both. We explore some of the causes of substance use that are particular to autism, whilst looking at how autistic people often use substances in ways that might make them more vulnerable to addiction. This includes issues of using alcohol to address social anxiety. We also ask why some treatment services can be difficult for autistic people to access and how treatment services might start to address these issues.“Maybe our diagnostic tools need to consider more carefully that fine line between when something maybe becomes a behavioural addiction versus something that perhaps is a core part of autism” - Dr Janine Robinson “What we have here is several spectrum disorders, people’s substance use might be on a spectrum, alcohol use might be on a spectrum and their manifestation of autism is also on a spectrum.” - Professor Julia Sinclair“ Treatment structured around groupwork can be really difficult for some people because it’s overwhelming or stressful. The sensory environment can be really unpleasant lots of fluorescent lights and noise and lots of people interacting in sometimes intense and difficult to process ways.” - Chris Torry “One issue is that many clinicians may not be familiar with autism. Other clinicians, for example, who are familiar with autism may have no training in behavioural addictions or substance use disorders.” 

14. Podcast: wearable technologies and overdose prevention with Alexis Roth (20:14)
In this SSA podcast, Alexis Roth gives us a preview of her talk at our 2022 Annual Conference. Dr Roth talks about the UnityPhilly app and wearable and other technologies that are being developed to help prevent opiate overdoses. Alexis talks about the consumer led way in which the app was designed as well as her experiences working with technology companies: “…they had already built the sort of ‘Uber-for-overdose’ component where it’s like ‘You signal, we alert, we can geofence these things’. That part was there. But then trying to work with them to customise it, to make it simpler, more streamlined, more like what you might find on a game kind of app was a challenge. And something we are still working towards” She also talks about developing a wearable biosensor that fits in people’s underwear that monitors respiratory rate. As well as the next steps in developing technology to identify an overdose and remotely administer naloxone. "Technology, when done in consultation with folks who would be the end users of these products and developed to respond to their concerns, their needs .... have a lot of potential."

13. The Drink Less app and Fred Yates prize with Claire Garnett (33:03)
In this episode, Dr Claire Garnett, winner of the SSA’s Fred Yates prize 2022, talks about her research and career. She focuses on her work at UCL developing the Drink Less app for reducing alcohol related harms and drinking. Claire also talks about how the team developed an app that was based on theoretical models of change and on health psychology and behavioural science principles. “My career thus far has been: If I’ve really enjoyed doing something and found it interesting, I’ve kept going”Claire also talks about her work on user testing and the lengthy process of making sure that health related apps work how they are intended before then evaluating them.“We thought we’d created the best app – I was so proud of it. We did those first ones and no one had any idea what to do when they arrived at the landing page [...] And it was so obvious to us because we’d been so involved with it, and it really highlighted the importance of [user testing].”Claire also talks about the impact of being endorsed by a certain 51-year-old celebrity…“I was like ‘everyone knows who Adrian Childs is’, and somebody went ‘no they don’t’ […] so we need to explain from a scientific perspective who actually is this person and why might it matter that he spoke about the app.”

12. Supporting people into employment: 'IPS into work' with WDP (42:45)
Rob talks to WDP about the challenges and rewards of running an IPS employment support programme. In this episode of Addictions Edited, Rob looks at how addiction treatment services can help people to find and keep employment. Recorded on 20 March 2022, Rob met three people who work in WDP’s Individual Placement and Support service (IPS Into Work); Rebecca Odedra, Harj Bansil and Claire Bowey. They each talked about finding jobs, the range of jobs they work with and how they deal with potentially stigmatising views when talking to employers. As well as the challenges, they also talk about how rewarding their work can be when helping people in their recovery. Rebecca discusses how IPS was adapted from mental health settings, how it is evaluated and their experiences of fidelity rating. “You’ve got people who may have been unemployed for 10 sometimes 20 years, so that is a huge step for them and it’s such an achievement and it’s just nice to be a part of that and help people realise their goals” Claire Bowey“What really appealed to me about the IPS model, was that it did not discriminate, it wasn’t someone telling service users that you have to be well to be working, it was very much based on their motivation and then developing the right support around them to foster successful outcomes” Harj BansilUseful links: About IPS: https://ipsgrow.org.uk/what-is-ips/WDP website: https://www.wdp.org.uk/IPS Into Work: https://www.wdp.org.uk/employment-supportIPS Into Work Impact Report 2019-2021: https://www.wdp.org.uk/ips-impact-report

11. The naloxone special (47:54)
For this special episode, Rob visits a London treatment service to talk to Martin McCusker from Lambeth Service User Council and Dr Martin Sefranek a substance misuse worker and researcher and Dr Rebecca McDonald an addictions researcher who joins them on zoom from Oslo.The podcast covers several key issues relating to naloxone, including how it works, how to administer it, legal implications and the latest research. They talk about the role of naloxone in reducing drug-related deaths in the UK and the implications for drug policy.They also discuss how to encourage people who use drugs to carry naloxone and the reasons why some people might not. Martin McCusker and Martin Sefranek talk about training people to use naloxone. And in particular their work with family and parents.“You always call the ambulance, but then …. you are counting the minutes or seconds yeah, but if you have naloxone you can do something more. And I think for these parents it was important to know that this is something they can do.” – Martin Sefranek “We’ve had really positive interactions between people and police …where they’ve been stopped and searched and it’s been a tense situation but then the naloxone is found and the whole vibe of the search changes.” – Martin McCusker “There is the estimate that two-thirds of overdoses could be prevented, but this very much relies on people not using on their own.” - Rebecca McDonald

10. Human rights and drug use with Gabriele Fischer (28:07)
The SSA interviews Professor Gabriele Fischer in advance of her Society Lecture at the 2022 Annual Conference in November. This year's conference will be in Bristol on 4 and 5 November. early-bird tickets are now available here.In this interview, Professor Gabriele Fischer talks about her interest in human rights work in relation to people who use drugs. She discusses the implications of UN human rights treaties and how they apply to psychiatry. She also talks about the importance of incorporating family planning and trauma informed care into treatment services along with international issues around coercion in treatment.Professor Fischer outlines the information about human rights that are important for people who use drugs, but also about the human rights responsibilities for states in providing treatment services, noting that "financial complaints is no justification for having violated human rights aspects". “I’m not a supporter of only talking about female substance use disorder. It has to be about sex and gender differences […] and what both sexes share.”See the SSA pages on adopting a rights based approach to treatment delivery.

9. Pregnancy and drug use: Full interview with Polly Radcliffe and Emma Smith (20:33)
In this bonus episode of the Addictions Edited podcast to mark International Women's Day 2022, Dr Polly Radcliffe and Dr Emma Smith discuss research exploring the best way of providing care for women who use drugs during pregnancy and their infants.The Stepping Stones study brings together researchers from Kings College London, University of Huddersfield, University of Stirling and Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust, and is led by Dr Polly Radcliffe of King’s College, London and Professor Helen Cheyne of the University of Stirling.Listen to this extended interview with researchers Dr Polly Radcliffe and Dr Emma Smith, a segment of which was played in the February Addictions Edited podcast. Polly and Emma talk about:the creation of an expert advisory and co-production groupreviews of clinical guidelines and existing interventionsinterviews with women who use drugs throughout their pregnancy and post-birth, and focus group and individual interviews with staff who work with women who use drugs in pregnancy.

8. Author interview: Long-term recovery from substance use: European perspectives (41:22)
The SSA talks to the editors behind a new textbook about recovery from substance use problems. They discuss the different types of experiences and stories that went into the book, how this text consolidates and advances knowledge about recovery, and give a behind-the-scenes look at the world of academic publishing.Meet the guests of this bonus episode of Addictions Edited:Professor Sarah Galvani is Professor of Social Research and Substance Use at Manchester Metropolitan University.Professor Alastair Roy is Professor of Social Research in the School of Social Work, Care and Community, University of Central Lancashire.Amanda Clayson is the founder of VoiceBox Inc. and a community research partner with Manchester Metropolitan University.Sarah, Alastair, and Amanda collaborated on a book titled “Long-term recovery from substance use: European perspectives”, which was published on 14 January 2022. This unique text centres the voices of people with substance use problems, and brings together international experts to explore different aspects of people’s experience of long-term recovery from substance use.Reactions to the book:"This book will get you thinking. Drawing on research and experiences from different countries and different substances, it skillfully explores relationships, trauma and life stages presenting lived experiences of long-term recovery." Hilda Loughran, Associate Professor of Social Work/Social Policy at University College Dublin"A particular strength of the book is the prominence it gives to the voices of experts by experience, either because their substance use has been problematic for them or because it has affected them as family members." Jim Orford, University of Birmingham and King's College London

7. The SSA talks to Ed Day, the UK Recovery Champion (29:02)
Dr Ed Day talks to the SSA about his role as the UK government's first Recovery Champion. He talks about shaping this new role, about policy history and what he has learned from people in recovery.Ed discusses his work in recovery settings from the early 2000s and reflects on what can be learned from that era. He talks about DANOS and workforce development, reflecting many of the themes in the Dame Carol Black report.He talks about the difficulties caused when harm reduction and abstinence were pitched against each other noting that this division distracted many people from the damages caused by years of disinvestment in addiction treatment services.Ed goes on to describe Recovery Oriented Systems of Care and how they have the potential to tap into the huge support systems in recovery. He emphasises, however, that they need supporting through infrastructure and investment to give them the value they deserve, noting that “recovery support services need parity of esteem”. “There are some amazing individuals around the UK who have battled through horrendous life stories and they’ve now gone on to devote a lot of their energy to helping people out of this.”“Unless we tap into that massive energy, we are missing something enormous in the treatment sphere.”

6. Podcast: The February take-home with guest Dr James Morris (45:34)
This month’s guest on the SSA podcast is Dr James Morris from London South Bank University who hosts The Alcohol Problem podcast. James joins the podcast regulars Dr Rob Calder and Dr Carol-Ann Getty to talk about the latest news, research, policy and debates relating to addiction.“Guidelines or statistics about risk do not resonate with people, but lived experience and stories about people’s lives absolutely do resonate. So we have to be aware of that when we’re thinking about how to change opinion or get people thinking about change or behaviour change.” - Dr James MorrisWe interview Dr Polly Radcliffe and Emma Smith about their research into services for pregnant women who use drugs (the full interview will be published later in February 2022) and we talk to Dr Nathan Critchlow about the impact of Ireland's recent alcohol policy changes. Go to the SSA website for links to all the news, research and other features discussed in this podcast. Follow James (@jamesmorris24) and the SSA (@SSA_Addiction) on twitter.

5. Alcohol policy in Ireland: full interview with Nathan Critchlow (27:12)
In this Addictions Edited Interview, Dr Nathan Critchlow talks about his latest research on alcohol advertising. His most recent study focused on Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act and examined changes in advertising awareness once some of the new restrictions had been implemented, for example a ban on alcohol advertising on public transport:“Understanding the impact this legislation has is important both in the Irish context, but it is [also] going to have much wider repercussions for countries that either have controls on alcohol marketing and advertising at the moment, or are considering implementing similar policies in the future”Nathan also discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection and how the data collected will provide more information than expected for future policy makers. “It’s kind of a very fun, very complicated natural experiment of which the pandemic was an intervention that we didn’t necessarily plan”He also talks briefly about the next steps in his research, including longer-term monitoring of Ireland’s legislation and new data from Northern Ireland:“What we are looking to do is collect data at the same point every year to build long-term understanding about the impact these restrictions have had…and by having several waves of data from Northern Ireland we are also going to have the control group, which will be crucial in being able to pinpoint the relative contribution of the legislation versus the pandemic”. You can read more about Nathan’s research in his latest publication in the Journal of Public Health (here) and a policy briefing on the research (here). The survey research was funded by both the SSA, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, and the University of Stirling.

4. The January take-home: with guest Dr Sharon Cox (46:04)
In this episode, Dr Sharon Cox from University College London's Department of Behavioural Science joins the SSA's Rob Calder and Dr Carol-Ann Getty from the Addiction journal newsroom."We have this situation in the UK where, almost the more health and social needs you have the less likely your smoking is to be addressed, it’s seen by health practitioners as the last comfort or the last pleasure, so that’s something that my work really tries to tackle." Dr Sharon Cox There is a feature on smoking cessation in mental health settings with Mary Yates, a smoking cessation lead for SLaM (South London and Maudsley NHS trust), one on Ketamine for alcohol use disorders and smoking cessation in addiction treatment both from the PhD: Addicted to Research team. We also have the regular roundup of the latest addiction news and research. News links:Juul to pay $14.5 million to settle Arizona vaping lawsuit. By Bob Christine. Published by the Associated Press (2021). US introduces bill to decriminalise cannabis use at federal level International court suspends investigation into Duterte’s “war on drugs”US drug overdose deaths exceed 100,000 UK drug strategy launched Drug safety testing legalised in Aotearoa. Research links: The old and familiar meets the new and unknown: Patient and clinician perceptions on e-cigarettes for smoking reduction in UK general practice, a qualitative interview study. By Charlotte Albury and colleagues. Published in Addiction (2021). Illegal drug market responses to state recreational cannabis laws. By Angélica Meinhofer and colleague. Published in Addiction (Discontinuing methadone and buprenorphine: a review and clinical challenges. By Joan E. Zweben and colleagues. Published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. SSA’s news and research picks from December https://www.addiction-ssa.org/news-and-research-december-2021/

3. Recommissioning: full interview with Will Haydock (40:02)
In this podcast, Rob talks to Dr Will Haydock about his experiences as an addiction treatment commissioner. Will talks about the importance of reviewing service provision and the impact this can have on treatment delivery. He gives some valuable insights into the pressures on commissioners and the behind-the-scenes work involved in this role. This interview is essential listening for anyone involved in treatment provision in England."Part of the impetus behind of those kinds of [commissioning] cycles is often funding, and how far into the future....any given commissioning organisation is prepared to commit. And I think often that comes from a tendency for strategies or financial plans of organisations...to be 3 to 5 years. And so those feel like lengths of time that people making decisions about...finances feel they can commit to. But, I think, in reality there's no particular reason for those time limits."

2. The November take-home with guest Oliver Standing (44:26)
In this episode Rob and Carol are joined by Oliver Standing from Collective Voice. They summarise the key news stories and look at policy and treatment.There is a feature on recommissioning with interviews from Dr Will Haydock and Professor Alison Ritter, a feature on treatment and research during COVID-19 lock-down by SSA-funded PhD student Chloe Burke and an interview with specialist prescribing nurse Dr Peter Kelly.
News picks Oliver: Review of drugs part two: prevention, treatment, and recovery. By Dame Carol Black. Published by the Department of Health and Social Care (2021). Carol: Swedish government to return € 1.3 million worth of Bitcoin to drug dealers. Published in Addiction News (2021). Rob: MHRA publishes clear guidance to support bringing e-cigarettes to market as licensed therapies. Published by Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (2021). Research picks Oliver: Less than human: dehumanisation of people who use heroin. By Harry Sumnall and colleagues. Published in Health Education (2021). Carol: Do naloxone access laws affect perceived risk of heroin use? Evidence from national US data. By Brian C. Kelly and colleague. Published in Addiction (2021). Rob:· Exploring essential components of addiction recovery: a qualitative study across assisted and unassisted recovery pathways. By Anne Dekkers and colleagues. Published in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy (2021).· Recovery and identity: a five-year follow-up of persons treated in 12-step-related programs. By Ninive von Greiff and colleague. Published in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy (2021). Illegal drug market responses to state recreational cannabis laws. By Angélica Meinhofer and colleague. Published in Addiction (2021). Increased illicit substance abuse among the Zimbabwean adolescents and youths during the COVID-19 era: An impending public health disaster. By Solomon Mukwenha and colleagues. Published in Addiction (2021).

1. Introduction to Addictions Edited (01:06)
Dr Rob Calder introduces the new podcast from the Society for the Study of Addiction.