{"id":7068714,"date":"2026-09-27T23:55:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T23:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/powys-substance-use-harm-reduction-plan-launch\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T23:55:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T23:55:15","slug":"powys-substance-use-harm-reduction-plan-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7068714","title":{"rendered":"Powys Substance Use Harm Reduction Plan launch"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Linda Hutchings, Brecon peer support worker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cDeveloping a partnership response to Harm Reduction across Powys\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

to meet the needs of people with drug and alcohol concerns.\u201d<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The first thing I picked up at this Harm Reduction Plan launch recently was a flyer about nitazenes (synthetic opioids known for their potent nature) and the changing face of heroin. I hadn\u2019t even pinned on my attendee badge. The bizarre names of drugs like naloxone (a potentially life-saving medication) and nitazene (an extremely harmful drug) were scattered throughout the day and I realised I had a lot to learn. <\/p>\n

Fortunately this highly informative day at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod brought together a multitude of statutory and voluntary sector agencies with a wealth of knowledge and experience around substance misuse. But perhaps even more importantly it called upon those with the lived experience of the harm that can be caused by substance misuse – be that alcohol or drugs – and the often catastrophic effects resulting in damaged mental and physical health, relationships, living arrangements (homelessness and debt being extreme but not unusual outcomes) and an increased likelihood of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jan Roberts (Suicide Prevention, Harm
\nReduction & Postvention Quality Improvement Lead), Joy Garfitt (Interim Executive Director of Operations, Mental Health Services) & Carol Daly (Harm Prevention & Reduction Lead – Substance Misuse)
Powys Teaching Health Board<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Joy Garfitt, Interim Executive Director of Operations – Mental Health Services in Powys, and chair of the Area Planning Board, welcomed everyone.<\/b> She explained that the APB brought together agencies across the county with the shared ambition of reducing harm from substance use. (There is a longer definition in the Welsh Government document Working together to reduce harm<\/a>). The APB plans, commissions and delivers services and also brings networks together. As Joy explained, Powys is actually as long as the distance between the Severn Bridge and the Marble Arch, so this is quite challenging!<\/span><\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n


What is harm reduction and how can it benefit Powys – Rick Lines, Public Health Wales, Head of Programmes, Substance Use<\/b><\/p>\n

Rick described how he was first introduced to harm reduction 30 years ago in his hometown of Toronto in Canada. He worked supporting prisoners who, he explained, were inevitably using drugs. His experience supporting people who had been traumatised by early life events, and went on to use drugs, led him to ask in court: \u201cHave you heard this woman\u2019s story? Why is the state looking at it through the context of drugs?\u201d<\/i> Rick highlighted that putting this particular woman in prison repeated the trauma she had experienced from authority figures when she was a child. <\/p>\n

Rick saw the same scenario play out when he later worked in Eastern Europe. He said 90% of drug use is not problematic (how many people do we know who use alcohol on a regular basis socially\u2026?) and asked what we can do to reduce deaths, to show that we care whether people live or die, and to help reduce the risk of using drugs in a risky fashion. We should be respecting the dignity of people who use drugs by providing services, and reducing feelings of vulnerability and stigma.<\/p>\n

Recent concerns are around changes in the drug market whereby synthetic and highly dangerous drugs (like nitazenes) are increasingly coming onto the market. Rick championed the ongoing work in the 3rd sector and community pharmacies to provide harm reduction services – \u201cit is the people on the ground who are making the difference\u201d.<\/i><\/p>\n

Welsh Government policy<\/a> is committed to harm reduction, and is unique in the United Kingdom, and rare in the world. This policy influences how the police, prisons and partners regard substance use and filters down to the statutory and community organisations.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\n
<\/a><\/div>\n


Current position in Powys and the focus of Harm Reduction – Carol Daly, Harm Prevention and Reduction Lead (Substance Misuse) <\/b><\/p>\n

Carol\u2019s aim is to set up a multi-agency Powys Harm Reduction sub-group (one of seven across Wales) to drive action across the county. This would draw on the knowledge of local organisations to deliver the key priorities, including: <\/p>\n

Supporting the work of the Health Board in working to the World Health Organisation’s global aim of eliminating Blood Borne Viruses by 2030. Powys is rolling out treatment and testing for people at risk of Blood Borne Viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C.<\/p>\n