Feedback

The purpose of CAVDAS’ Ketamine Working Group is to bring together clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to advance the safe, effective, and ethical use of ketamine. The group serves as a forum to share knowledge, review emerging evidence, develop best practices and provide guidance. By fostering collaboration and standardisation, the working group seeks to ensure that ketamine-based treatments are accessible, evidence-informed, and integrated responsibly into the broader continuum of drug and alcohol services.
VAC have helped to support the Ketamine Working Group by co-creating a survey with lived experience members and staff. VAC have managed to collect almost 100 responses and have created a data report to share back to the team.
Click Here for Ketamine data report

VAC gathered 36 survey responses regarding needle and syringe provision and safer injecting. The survey questions included:

1. Have you heard of Needle and Syringe Provision? If so, from who?
2. Do you think there are any myths about needle and syringe provision?
3. What are the best ways of promoting needle and syringe provision?
4. Do you have any worries regarding needle use in your hostel? (I.e. needle stick injuries, needle sharing, not enough harm reduction advice)
5. Have you seen anyone dispose of their needles in different ways? i.e. other than a sharps bin

Click here to review the feedback on Safer Injecting and Needle Provision

In order to support the wider promotion of specialist substance misuse harm reduction interventions accessible across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, a dedicated task and finish group was established by the APB’s Harm Reduction Group.
The group have recognised the need to develop resources to better promote across Harm Reduction Hubs (formally referred to as Needle and Syringe Programmes) across professional networks and the specialist harm reduction interventions they offer, including; provision of sterile injecting equipment and sharps disposal facilities, naloxone, blood borne virus screening, sexual health kits, self-care wound packs, target information and advice etc.
VAC have helped to support the design of the following information sheets:

• Harm Reduction Hubs: What are they? English info sheet – Welsh info sheet
• Harm Reduction Hub: Location and opening times English info sheet – Welsh info sheet

Note: these sheets only detail existing static open-access hubs and does not include outreach and ‘resident only’ provision which exists in a number of hostel settings across the region.

The APB has tasked VAC to look at Sexual health services in preparation for the next Harm Reduction meeting in June. Within the drop in at St Johns Church, VAC Reps and service users created a Sexual Health Questionnaire and discussed the following:

Why is there stigma around sexual health services?

“Seen as “seedy”
“Blame”
“Fear of Judgement”
“Feel it implies you are sleeping around”
“80’s Trauma”
“STD’s seen as a death sentence”
“People believe they have acted irresponsibly”
“Culture differences”
“Scared of the records being created”
“Seen as taboo”
“Not enough education around sexual health”
“Openness around sexuality”
“Gum clinic seen as a last resort”
“Negative connotations around sexual health services”
“Anonymisation of details feeds into the stigma”
“Not talked about”
“Embarrassment “
“lack of understanding”
“Historical stigmatisation”

Why do people not use sexual health services?

“Some people are embarrassed as they have not taken safe precautions”
“Feel like it could cause issues with partner”
“Older generation who typically don’t need to worry about pregnancy are not aware of STD’s”
“People are not aware of the other functions of services such as family planning”
“Thought it was only for people with STD’s”
“Thought it was just for sex workers”
“Felt more comfortable speaking to a GP”
“Not enough education around sexual health”
“People believe they have acted irresponsibly ”
“People are only aware of Gum clinics and not online services”
“Gum clinic seen as a last resort”
“Awareness around sexual health services need to be more positive”
“If I don’t know about it I don’t have to deal with it”
“Scared about the outcome”
“People are not aware of BBV’s”
“It only happens to other people”
“Stigma”

VAC have explored ‘Stigmatising Language’ and ‘Alternative Language’ to use. By having these conversations, we aim to make conscious decisions of the way we communicate with people who are experiencing challenging and diverse experiences. We visited RC on Thursday 20th June and found they were also focusing on the same topic. It was great learning opportunity! Read Recovery Cymru’s blog post of how to tackle Stigma. Most of us will know someone who is or has struggled with substances. Our underlying beliefs, language, and actions are so powerful. Individuals, families, health and social professionals, employers, and the general public need to make a joint effort and difference in swiping out stigma. Click here to view swiping out stigma pdf