The SIG is on hiatus until May/June 2025. There will be no further meetings of the SIG until that time. This notice will be updated in due course.
The Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) Special Interest Group (SIG) consists of practitioners, managers and academics who come together to share information, promote and develop knowledge, produce resources and consider policy.
The title of the group reflects a very specific choice. You can read about the thinking behind this choice of name in our use of the term ‘Alcohol and other Drugs’ summary.
Alcohol and other Drugs is a major element of much social work practice, for example, safeguarding, and it is the view of the group that social work students, practitioners and managers need to have improved awareness, education and training on AoD and related issues. We will have a fuller statement on this shortly.
AoD members meet regularly (many joining remotely) and agendas and minutes are circulated. If you are interested in being involved email policyadmin@BASW.co.uk putting AoD SIG in the header.
Useful links
Useful Links
General resources
Alcohol Change UK
Harm reduction information and advice - https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
Change Grow Live (CGL)
Provider of local substance misuse services in various parts of the UK www.Changegrowlive.org
Drink Aware
Information and advice about potential harms from alcohol https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
Drink Wise Age Well
Project for supporting people to healthier choices about alcohol as they age https://drinkwiseagewell.org.uk/
London Friend
Support and information for the LGBT community around substance misuse - http://londonfriend.org.uk/
NHS
Database of local substance misuse services - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthybody/addiction-what-is-it/
Recoverist Network
Activist network focusing on promoting Recovery from substance misuse problems - https://recoverist.net/about/
Release
Legal advice and information for people affected by substance misuse problems https://www.release.org.uk/
Talk to Frank
Accessible information about alcohol and other drugs - https://www.talktofrank.com/
Turning Point
Substance misuse service provider and professional resources - https://www.turningpoint.co.uk/
Children and families resources
Adfam
Resources for families affected by drugs and alcohol - https://www.adfam.org.uk/
Children’s Society
Collection of information, guidance and resources on parental substance misuse - https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/substance-misuse-domestic-violence/s...
Family Drug and Alcohol Court
Specialist court system currently serving various local authorities across England and Northern Ireland - http://fdac.org.uk/
NSPCC
Resource focused on parental substance misuse and how to support children living with parents who misuse alcohol and drugs - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventingabuse/child-protection-system/parenta...
Professional resources
Alcohol Policy UK
News and analysis for the alcohol harm reduction field https://www.alcoholpolicy.net/
Drug and Alcohol Findings
Linking practice to research in the field of alcohol and drug use - https://findings.org.uk/
Drugwise
Promoting evidence-based information on drugs, alcohol and tobacco https://www.drugwise.org.uk/
End of life care for people with problematic substance use
Research and practice guidance - Endoflifecaresubstanceuse.com
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Overview of research evidence relating to European drug use and drug problems - http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/emcdda-home-page_en
Expert Citizens
Organisation of experts by experience with multiple needs, campaigning for better services and national policy - http://www.expertcitizens.org.uk/
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Includes guidance for professionals on working with clients with alcohol and other drug problems - https://www.nice.org.uk/
Neptune Clinical Guidance
Supporting clinical practice in the management of harms resulting from the use of club drugs and novel psychoactive substances - http://neptune-clinicalguidance.co.uk/
Social Care Institute for Excellence
Provides information and guidance around issues of substance related harms and good practice - https://www.scie.org.uk/
Stella Project
Addressing domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health https://avaproject.org.uk/ava-services-2/multiple-disadvantage/
Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Campaigning organisation for changes to drug policy - https://www.tdpf.org.uk/
Working with Substance Use
Practice guidance for health and social care professionals - https://workingwithsubstanceuse.wordpress.com/
Nation specific resources
England
Public Health England
Drug misuse and dependency policies and research - https://www.gov.uk/healthand-social-care/drug-misuse-and-dependency
Harmful drinking policies and research - https://www.gov.uk/health-and-socialcare/harmful-drinking
Scotland
Alcohol Focus Scotland
Alcohol harm reduction resource - https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/
Scottish Drugs Forum
Policy and research website - http://www.sdf.org.uk/
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs
Information and advice website - https://www.sfad.org.uk/
Scottish Government Alcohol and Drug Treatment Strategy
https://www.gov.scot/publications/rights-respect-recovery/
Scottish Government information and advice on alcohol use
https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Alcohol
Scottish Government Good Practice guide for Children and Families/substance misuse working
https://www.gov.scot/publications/getting-priorities-right/
Wales
National Assembly for Wales
Discussion of the state of alcohol and substance abuse in Wales - https://seneddresearch.blog/2018/11/19/alcohol-awareness-week-19-25-nove...
Welsh Substance Misuse Strategy
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/72997
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland policy summary for alcohol and drug misuse
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/alcohol-and-drugs-misuse
Northern Irish guidance and information on local services
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/getting-help-drug-or-alcohol-problems
Compiled by Luke Bryan-Lai and Wulf Livingston. This version March 2019