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Reposted by Chloé Bate

Drug Science @drugscience.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Drug Science mourns the incredible loss of Hannah Deacon, who passed away suddenly on May 6. Her tenacious fight to treat her son's epilepsy was instrumental in transforming medical cannabis legislation in the UK. Dr. Anne Schlag reflects on Hannah’s remarkable legacy: ❤️ drugscience.org.uk/a...

drugscience.org.uk

A tribute to Hannah Deacon Supermum, Supercampaigner, Super-Beautiful Person.

The whole Drug Science Team is shocked and incredibly saddened by the news of Hannah Deacon’s passing on May 6th, 2025, after ‘a short and brutal illness’

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Some of this research was supported by the MRC and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office at The University of Glasgow. The views expressed are those of the authors. (17/17) References: drdsystemstructures.my.canva.site

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

⭐ Where can systems mapping be applied in your sector? ⭐ Share this post and your thoughts on using systems science methods for complex problem-solving in public health and policy (16/17)

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Using more than one source of data can show us a bigger picture of how systems are experienced, it is important to think about how we can further leverage available healthcare information with data linkage 🔗 You can learn more about data linkage on post 17. #healthequity #datalinkage

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

The key value of a systems map is that it offers a way to step back, assess different perspectives, and ensure all relevant factors and stakeholders are considered and given a voice when making decisions. We can then integrate evidence-informed decisions in the UK drug policy landscape. (14/17)

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

If we consider co-prescription as one aspect of service quality, in what ways could the system map help us consider this more broadly? Moving beyond the roles of GPs and pharmacists, improving treatment planning requires incorporating lived experience at an organisation and policy level. (13/17)

Infographic illustrating the connection between lived experience representation, quality of treatment planning, and service quality in healthcare.

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Understanding the broader structure allows for policy decision-making that can better visualise tensions and trade-offs. Let’s unpack how public health policy makers can work with challenges at a treatment provision and co-prescription when trying to achieve health orientated goals. (12/17)

Quote in a speech bubble expressing frustration with the long wait for medical help in reducing and choosing to detox independently.“ I wanted to start reducing, they told me I needed to see a doctor... so from the day I asked to start reducing, I had to wait nine months, but I didn’t have to wait any time to get put up, you know what I mean? So, I eventually just though f**k this, and started detoxing myself.”

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Stigma can influence experiences of treatment choice, dosing, what ‘recovery’ should look like, and ideas around the care people are entitled to. You can read more about the way stigma impacts treatment provision and experiences from links on post 16. (11/17) @scottishdrugsforum.bsky.social

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Access to quality and consistent drug treatment has the strongest evidence-base in reducing DRD risk. Stigma compounds in effect across services, individuals within them, and risk of experiencing a DRD. This can be mitigated with appropriate and empowering treatment on a case-by-case basis. (10/17)

Flowchart illustrating the connection between stigma, service experiences, and drug-related death, highlighting key factors involved.

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

The prevalence of stigmatising norms around drugs is characterised by feedback loops mentioned a few posts back. Factors reinforce one another and entrench these norms at the cultural level, making it harder to break the cycle and influence change. (9/17)

A circular diagram illustrating the cycle of stigmatizing attitudes towards drug users, highlighting key influences and factors.

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Let’s explore the subsystem of Public and workforce stigmatising attitudes. Addressing stigma can’t happen through single intervention points. Targeting upstream and downstream factors—at same, and cross-level subsystems will allow for whole system change—it will change how our sky looks. (8/17)

A diagram illustrating various factors related to experiencing a drug related death including stigma, social influences, and community well-being.

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

There’s a view that current UK strategy positions on stigma are “fundamentally incoherent”. Systems thinking can identify how stigma is experienced and reproduced in the real world. This method is currently used at a government level with DEFRA in mapping systems for environmental policy.(7/17)

A diagram outlining key concepts of systems thinking: purpose, boundaries, interrelationships, and perspectives, with guiding questions.

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

When the relationships between causes and effect are unpredictable, we can identify how factors interact via relevant system characteristics. In the context of DRDs in Scotland, these can include: 🔁Feedback loops 💡Emergence 🤝Interdependencies 💪 Influence (6/17)

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

What are some examples of subsystems identified as direct causes of experiencing a drug related death in Scotland? ⛔ Public and workforce stigmatising attitudes 🌱Life experiences 🗨️ Social Influences on drug harms 👩‍⚕️Experience of services 🔎Public perspectives on substance use (5/17)

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

DRDs occur as part of a broader system, where policies, social environments, and individual behaviours are interconnected. Systems mapping helps us understand the social ecological system, showing cause-effect relationships and the need for multi-stakeholder solutions. (4/17) #systemsmapping

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

When thinking of a whole system, we can think of it as comprised of subsystems, or clusters of closely related factors. This may look confusing, but we can identify subsystems composed of upstream and downstream factors and their causal interconnections in this constellation. (3/17) #stopthedeaths

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

In 1998, calls advocating for harsher drug laws and a “drug-free world” were supported by the UN. It is now said that we are seeing progress in viewing DRDs as a public health over criminal issue. In addressing Scottish DRDs, Dr Priyadarshi calls for a “whole package of treatment and care”. (2/17)

Black and white poster with three young men, text reads "You've got the choice. Choose life, not drugs - be all you can be."

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Chloé Bate @4lfch103.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

In 2023, Scotland saw 1,172 drug related deaths (DRDs). Approaches to death prevention are complex as solutions require coordinated action across different sectors. How can we explore how causes of DRDs interact in our health and social care system? Let's use systems mapping!🧵 (1/17) #systemscience

# STOP THE DEATHS, WE CAN PREVENT DRUG DEATHS" in bold white letters on a black background.

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Reposted by Chloé Bate

JT 👻 @jazztee.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Screenshot from LinkedIn:

Susan McPherson
Deputy Director, Institute for Public Health

The Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP talked about "overdiagnosis" of mental health on #Kuenssberg today. Our research at University of Essex using Understanding Society data shows
"underdiagnosis" is a far bigger problem in the UK than"overdiagnosis".

There are also significant inequalities with
some groups (e.g. young people, disabled people) more likely to have undiagnosed mental health problems. Our team have more articles forthcoming on undiagnosed distress and inequalities using representative population data. Department of Health and Social Care please look at the evidence

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Reposted by Chloé Bate

PHS Community Services Society @phscss.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

The UK’s first legal drug consumption room opened in Glasgow on Monday morning. Dr Saket Priyadarshi, Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services: "It’s another part of a system of care, another piece of the jigsaw responding to a very complex problem.” www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

theguardian.com

‘All eyes are on Glasgow’: UK’s first legal drug consumption room ready to open

The Thistle will be available 365 days a year and provide a supervised space where drugs can be injected safely

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Reposted by Chloé Bate

Carceral Abolition @carceralabolition.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Scottish Drugs Forum - Polysubstance Use and Cocaine: Engaging and Supporting People www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY9B...

youtube.com

Polysubstance Use and Cocaine: Engaging and Supporting People (SDF Webinar)

YouTube video by ScottishDrugsForum

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