After a few weeks of disappointing weather, the end of this week is set to be a scorcher! If you’re heading down the harbourside or booking a table in your favourite sunny beer garden, follow this guide to minimise the damage to your body and brain.
Eat
You’ve probably been told this a million times, but make sure you eat something substantial before you go out drinking and if you’re out all day, don’t skip meals. It’ll make it less likely that you’ll go over you limit and will make your hangover less bad the next day (plus who doesn’t love a drunken kebab?).
Stay hydrated
Alcohol will dehydrate you so it’s important to drink water too. Ideally you should be alternating between alcoholic drinks and water.
Protect yourself from the sun
If you’re heading to the park/harbour/countryside for a drink, try to find a spot where you can get some shade. Use sun cream and bring it along with you so you can reapply if needs be.
Look after your mates
This goes without saying but if your friend is really drunk, don’t leave them on their own. Make sure they get home safely and don’t leave them with strangers. Bring some face masks out with you in case you end up needing to get in a taxi.
Practice safe sex
Alcohol lowers inhibitions and increases the likelihood of engaging in some kind of sexual activity. Carry condoms, dental dams or both (depending on your sexual preferences) to protect against STIs and pregnancy. Do not try and have sex with someone if you’re unsure whether they are too intoxicated to consent.
Although COVID-19 means that this year’s Volunteers Week is very different – we still want to use the opportunity to say a big thank you to our fantastic volunteers who have always made our work possible and who have been supporting us, however they can, during these difficult times to allow us to continue to support some of the most vulnerable people in Bristol.
I’d like to express my gratitude to all who have, and currently do, volunteer at BDP. Over 34 years almost 1000 people have done so and long may it continue!
– Ed, BDP Volunteer Manager
This Volunteers Week we asked Maddie, one of our new Project Volunteers, to let us know how her first few months at BDP has been, during these challenging times…
“I have been volunteering at BDP since the start of this year, and although this year might have been crazier than previous ones, I have really enjoyed the variety of tasks and the innovative thinking at BDP.
“The team are always looking to improve and grow their services, making them more accessible and I always feel so honoured to play just a small part in that. Despite the many negative impact’s lockdown has had on everything, there have been some exciting and positive outcomes from BDP, with our volunteer roles changing and adapting to meet the needs of our service users.
“As volunteers, we are kept up to date with regular email newsletters about BDP activities and are provided with online training resources to keep us busy during lockdown. This speaks volumes for the amount of support and effort that BDP go to for everyone!
“Before lockdown, volunteering at BDP consisted of working in the needle exchange and on their helpline – but no shift is really the same and there is no predicting what the pace of the day will be. Currently, volunteers at BDP are in a couple times a week; packing the safer injecting kits, on the helpline and organising the activity packs which are being delivered to homeless people self isolating at hostels across Bristol.
“Volunteering at BDP is my favourite part of the week, and I am looking forward to growing and learning with the team.”
Reacting to the high demand for hand sanitiser, an artisan distillery in Bristol has been making and distributing free home-made sanitiser for charities and organisations supporting vulnerable people during lockdown.
At BDP, we would like to say a big thank you to Psychopomp Microdistillery in Kingsdown for providing our staff with free hand sanitiser gel to keep themselves safe during COVID-19.
Psychopomp Microdistillery and BDP have featured in a short Channel 4 video released on Friday 15th May.
The team at Psychopomp Microdistillery have been busy producing hand sanitiser for Bristol and beyond, helping to support organisations like the police, ambulance crews and older people’s homes.
We realised we had all the ingredients needed to make it ourselves so initially made some just for staff and family members.
But then we decided to go further and make a lot more of it so we could start giving it away to people in the community, particularly those who need it most due to health conditions, or people who are really anxious about coronavirus.
– Danny, Psychopomp Microdistillery
If you work for a local frontline health or social care organisation, contact Psychopomp Microdistillery to order hand sanitiser for your organisation.
The 12th May is International Nurses Day, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. 2020 is also the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, marking the 200th anniversary of Nightingale’s birth.
An embedded nursing team within an alcohol and drugs service is a rare and valuable thing and it’s not only our service users who feel the benefit of them being with us. Today we would like to celebrate the contribution that our nurses make to the work of BDP and thank the nurses we work with in partnership across Bristol.
Their problematic alcohol or drug use hasn’t stopped just because the world has – so we can’t either.
– BDP Nurse
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our nurses’ roles have understandably changed as they respond to the challenges of lockdown, social distancing and embrace best PPE practice – but they have been busier than ever. They have been taking their skills and services to the people that need it most, with increased street outreach and targeted services at Bristol’s homeless hostels.
We caught up with Nurse Rosa earlier today to find out how she has been adjusting to the current challenges.
“Nursing during COVID-19 has been like living in the Land of Oz – but fortunately at BDP we have the heart, the nerve and the brain. This morning we are going out in central Bristol to look for some vulnerable people that may have physical health needs that we can support.
“It’s nice to meet people where they are and be with them during a time where many of the services they rely on aren’t functioning properly. But it’s also worrying because they’ve still got so much going on. Their problematic alcohol or drug use or their poor mental health hasn’t stopped just because the world has – so we can’t either.”
I spent today doing outreach with one of our amazing nurses Rosa.Taking harm reduction and healthcare directly to homeless and vulnerably housed people on foot and in our #HarmReduction truck has become a core part of our job and I feel privileged to be doing it.
I spent today doing outreach with one of our amazing nurses Rosa.Taking harm reduction and healthcare directly to homeless and vulnerably housed people on foot and in our #HarmReduction truck has become a core part of our job and I feel privileged to be doing it. pic.twitter.com/3KlTnRbof6
“We visit homeless hostels in our truck (the Mobile Harm Reduction Centre) to provide support on their doorstep. I think all of us are finding it hard to know what day it is during lockdown, so it is nice to visit as a routine, providing them with a bit of structure and a change of scene.
“People are usually delighted to see us. There’s not so many people out and about and a friendly face goes a long way. We always follow social distancing and PPE guidelines as it’s important that we keep them and ourselves safe. Sometimes it is difficult not to feel like you can be truly alongside somebody, especially people who are in distress, but you just have to find a way to manage it. It’s very important to be out there visibly, to let them know that BDP and Homeless Health are still open and there for them during this time.”
With limited alcohol-detox interventions available during the COVID-19 lockdown, Bristol ROADS partners BDP and AWP have been working together to produce a Polish language guide to support members of Bristol’s Polish communities around the gradual self-reduction of alcohol at home.
Withdrawal from alcohol should never be underestimated, as it can become a serious medical situation with potentially fatal consequences. The new guide will be used by healthcare professionals to support people with alcohol-dependency to understand the risks and learn how to gradually self-reduce the amount they are drinking at home by following medical advice.
The new guide also provides practical well-being advice around managing sleep, stress and anxiety, as well as the importance of hydration, multi-vitamins and minerals during an alcohol self-reduction.
The guide has already been welcomed by Southmead Hospital and has been shared with Polish community outreach workers at St Mungo’s and SARI and across the Bristol ROADS and Homelessness Pathways networks.
BDP’s Diverse Communities worker Nicky Auguste, understands the importance of making service is Bristol more accessible to Polish and Eastern European communities. Next Tuesday, Nicky will be hosting a Polish Professionals training event around the harms of alcohol.
Being given a criminal record for the possession of drugs (even if it does not involve being sent to prison) can have wide-ranging negative impacts on your life, from your job prospects to your family relationships. For Class A, B, and C drugs respectively, a conviction for possession could result in a seven, five or two year prison sentence plus an unlimited fine. However, the enforcement of drug laws is devolved to local police forces, meaning they can choose whether or not to pursue a conviction.
In recent years, some police forces have begun to recognise the potentially devastating effect a criminal record can have on a person. In response, they have introduced schemes to keep people caught for minor drug offences out of the criminal justice system and instead encourage understanding of the potential harms that may occur if the offending continues. These are called ‘diversion schemes’.
Avon and Somerset Police were one of the first police forces in the country to introduce a diversion scheme for people aged 18 and over back in 2016. This is called the Drugs Education Programme, or DEP for short. People referred to the DEP will be invited to attend a three and a half hour group session that aims to educate attendees about the harms of drugs and also some of the legalities surrounding them. Those aged 10-17 will be referred to the Youth Alcohol and Drug Diversion Scheme (YADD) which is similar to the adult service but delivered on a one to one basis rather than as a group.
At the discretion of the arresting officer, the scheme can be offered to anyone caught in possession of drugs, no matter what drug they are caught with or the extent of their previous offending. Once someone completes the course, they will be sent a letter saying that no further action will be taken and the incident won’t show up on any criminal record checks. However, the DEP and YADD can only be attended once, so if someone successfully completes the course but is caught in possession of drugs again, they will not be able to repeat the course and criminal justice outcome (a caution or charge for possession) is likely.
Charlotte Pritchard, Senior Commissioning and Policy Officer at Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has described the scheme as
A new approach to policing in that it has changed [the] thinking to look at…root causes [of drug use] and gives an opportunity to change before criminalising [the individual].
These schemes were initially only available in Bristol but have been deemed so successful at reducing reoffending by Avon and Somerset Police that in 2019 they were rolled out across the whole policing area. A new scheme called ‘Call In’ has been introduced for those aged 17 and under who are suspected of dealing. These people are offered mentoring and skills development courses to help them get a job or continue in education and ultimately realise their potential outside the criminal world in addition to the usual drug awareness course.
People who use drugs in Bristol still need to be aware of the legal issues surrounding drugs, particularly as referral is at the discretion of the arresting officer, the schemes can only be attended once and those 18 and over suspected of dealing are unlikely to be referred. However, these schemes demonstrate a real willingness from Avon and Somerset Police to avoid criminalising people unnecessarily, address the underlying reasons why people choose to use drugs and to reduce drug related harm.
It’s important to know your rights if you’re stopped by the police and found in possession of drugs. Release have made this handy app that will guide you through the process and make sure you know your rights if you are asked to attend the police station.
If you’re concerned about your use of alcohol or other drugs, or the use of a friend or family member, give us a call on 01179896000 for free, confidential advice and support.
