Free resources

FreeLearn: Naloxone Saves Lives - FREE to access e-learning module

When you have completed this e-learning module, you will:

• Understand drug related deaths and risks, and how to recognise the signs and symptoms of an overdose
• Know what to do and what not to do in the event of an overdose
• Be aware of what naloxone is and how it can help
• Be familiar with  naloxone provision in the UK
• Understand the importance of training people in the use of naloxone and what should be included in training
• Be aware of available naloxone products and how to use them
• Understand who naloxone should be prescribed for, and how it is prescribed
• Know how to set up naloxone services in your area.

On completion a Certificate of Completion is issued.

The notional learning time is 1 hour.

The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) lists this as an advanced learning programme for pharmacy professionals.

Take course

Please note: you will need to sign up for a free account before you are able to enroll on the course.

Patient experience of withdrawal from prescribed medications
September 2023

Presenter: Dr Jennifer Seddon, lecturer in Psychology at Oxford Brookes University. 

Chair: Dr Steve Brinksman, Clinical Director, Addiction Professionals

This webinar presents the findings of a recent research project that aimed to improve patient experience, questions answered by an expert panel of Drs, pharmacists and people with lived experience of prescription medication dependence. The webinar explores the prescription and management of medicines with a risk of dependence or withdrawal and the patient experience of care. It will focus on the use of benzodiazepines, z-drugs, opioids, gabapentinoids and antidepressants. Ensuring good patient experience for people prescribed these medications is a key focus for policy and practice.

Professor Graham Foster on hepatitis C elimination
March 2022

Professor Foster discusses the essential role primary care plays in eliminating hepatitis C. Having provided curative treatment through the NHS for this cancer-causing virus to around 65,000 high risk individuals, a recent UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report estimates that the majority of remaining infection may be from historic risk factors best found within the primary care population. The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Elimination Programme is working to support GPs to find and treat these patients to achieve elimination before the global goal of 2030.

The impact of the pandemic on people who use drugs: what we can learn from research
March 2022

This webinar explores the impact of the pandemic on people who use drugs, and will draw on research conducted during this unique period in time, and what we can learn from it.

Presentations available from Dr Emmert Roberts, Catriona Matheson and Jo Keston. (please click on name to download PDF).

The increase in alcohol-related deaths: how can we respond?
October 2021

This joint webinar between Addiction Professionals and DDN looks at the statistics behind the worrying increase in alcohol-related deaths and will consider the causes, and what we can do to prevent further increases. Chair: Dr Steve Brinksman, Clinical Director, Addiction Professionals Kate Hall, Head of Operations, Substance Misuse Division, GMMH NHS Foundation Trust Aimee Carer, Person with lived experience Kieran Doherty Head of Quality and Governance, Inclusion

Parents with drug and alcohol problems: how can commissioners and services provide the best interventions?
June 2021

This was a joint Addiction Professionals and Adfam webinar. Public Health England has recently published the new guidance ‘Parents with drug and alcohol problems: guidance for adult treatment and children and family services’. This webinar explores how to implement the guidance and how services can improve to meet the needs of parents, children and families.

Speakers: Virginia Wright, Parents, carers and families lead (alcohol and drugs) at Public Health England and Philip Breslin, Consultant, Adfam

For more information

Parents with alcohol and drug problems: support resources - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Quick access to data: NDTMS - National Drug Treatment Monitoring System

Quick access to the slide pack

Join the online community of professionals with an interest in parental alcohol and drug use and the impact it can have on children, carers and families at Home - Parental Alcohol and Drug Use - Knowledge Hub (khub.net) and keep up to date via our monthly newsletter for members on recent publications, policy updated and forthcoming webinars.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we hosted a number of free webinars. Please see below recordings.

Children, families and substance use
May 2020

This webinar explores issues for children and families and substance use, with a focus on challenges and solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic Presenters: Vivienne Evans, OBE Chief Executive Adfam Kersti Dolphin, Services Manager Adfam

The pandemic nine months on: what lessons have drug and alcohol services learned?

Services have had the chance to come to terms with the seismic and sudden changes that the pandemic required of us nine months ago. This webinar looks at whether some of these changes have been beneficial and will outlast the pandemic, and also what services will embrace on return to a more normal environment. Presenters: Dr Georges Petitjean Medical Lead Inclusion, Carly Goodson, NMP Inclusion and Alexander James, Recovery Worker Inclusion.

Covid-19 and drug and alcohol services: we are through the rescue phase, what's next?

Drug and alcohol services and their clients have experienced massive change in the delivery of treatment over the past few weeks in response to the pandemic. This webinar looks at the next steps, as services navigate the relaxation of some of the lockdown measures.

Setting up services for people with dependency on prescription and over-the counter medications

This webinar will look at issues of dependency on prescription and over-the counter medications, and how services can be designed to meet their needs

Read a Clinical Update. Our Clinical Updates are summaries  of research papers, with expert commentary by editor Dr Euan Lawson.

Articles - we regularly publish new articles from experts in the field. 

Guidance and resources available here. Shortcuts to important documents.

E-learning 

Visit our e-learning site for our Naloxone Saves Lives course, it's free and certificates are issued. 

Free newsletter

Sign up for free membership to receive our regular newsletter with articles and news of more free stuff to come! 

We also recommend:

Drink and Drugs News - the publication for the drug and alcohol treatment sector with news and jobs.

Watch free recorded webinars in our series on medical cannabis

Made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Althea.

Medical cannabis and pain: a clinician's experience

This webinar covers a range of conditions including real life experience of treating different types of pain and other coexisting symptoms. It includes presentations from patients with experience of being prescribed medical cannabis

Presenters: Dr Elizabeth Iveson Consultant Stroke, Elderly and Neurorehabilitation Physician
Chair: Dr Steve Brinksman, Clinical Director, SMMGP

Medical cannabis and the treatment of pain

Medical cannabis and drug policy in the UK

Speaker: Professor David Nutt.
Chair: Dr Steve Brinksman, Clinical Director SMMGP.

This webinar covers policy regarding access to medical cannabis in the UK.

Medical cannabis: does it have a role in the treatment of substance use disorders

Speaker: Professor Nicholas Lintzeris. 

Chaired: Dr Stephen Willott.

This webinar includes:

• the evidence base for the use of medical cannabis and problematic drug and alcohol use
• a clinician’s experience of treatment of drug and alcohol dependency with medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis and anxiety 

Speaker: Dr Dani Gordon. 

Chaired: Dr Stephen Willott. 

This webinar includes:

• The evidence base, including prescribing regimens
• A clinician’s experience of prescribing medical cannabis for anxiety.

Medical cannabis in the UK: an Introduction

Speaker: Dr Kishan Mahabir. 

Chaired: Dr Stephen Willott. 

This webinar covers:

• An overview of medical cannabis and the evidence base
• Pros and cons of medical cannabis from a clinician’s point of view
• Treatment pathways to medical cannabis in the UK, including and barriers and enablers.