Drugs Unwrapped: The Podcast

Rob is joined by Sarah (Gwent N-Gage Young Person's Service Manager), Hannah (Young Person's worker in Cwm Taf & Bridgend) and Shannon (Young Person's worker in Choices West). In this episode, we discuss solvents (or volatile substances as other may called them), drugs such as aerosols, gases, petrol, poppers, glue and nitrous oxide. The panellists share some of the stories of peop...

Rob and Sarah are joined by Rin, who has accessed Gwent N-Gage's transitional service. Rin felt that adult services didn't quite fit their needs and they were over the age threshold to access young person's services. So where did they fit in from a services perspective? Rin used to use cannabis and spend up to £300 a month. They discuss why they used cannabis and what they got from it,...

In this 'emergency' episode, Rob and Jamie reflect on the 2022 drug related death figures that were released on 19th December 2023. The release of the 2022 drug related death data was delayed, but we saw deaths associated to substances, in Wales, reduce to 318, down from 322 in 2021. However, we have once again seen cocaine-related deaths increase, with 52 people losing their lives in 2022...

In this episode, we chat to Martin Powell from Transform Drug Policy Foundation . Transform are an independent ,  UK-based charity working nationally and internationally towards a just and effective system of legal regulation for all drugs. Martin is an expert within the drug policy field and has extensive knowledge of Overdose Prevention Centres (OPCs), Police Drug Diversion Schemes, Heroin Assis...

In this episode, Rob and Jamie discuss benzodiazepines, a class of sedative substances. Benzo's, for short, have gradually got more attention over the last few years due to their continued use, implications within overdoses and the growing number of 'novel' forms hitting the UK drug market. Rob and Jamie look at what we see from a services perspective in terms of people accessing suppo...

Rob is joined by Sarah, Hannah and Jamie to discuss the 'A' word, alcohol, and what our relationship is like with this substance, and where is it heading? The panel share their experience from a services perspective, in terms of people accessing support for alcohol use, how this has increased significantly since the pandemic and how the UK Government has politicised alcohol and the public&...

*Please be aware that some listeners may find some of the content discussed in this episode, distressing and upsetting* In this episode, we talk to Petra Schulz, who tragically lost her youngest son, Danny, to a fatal fentanyl overdose in 2014, at the age of 25. Petra lives in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada and since Danny's death has become a key figure in the fight for drug policy reform, both...

Rob, Jamie and Danielle have over 40 years experience of working within the substance use field, between them. In this episode, they chat about the realities of what it's like to work in the drugs field and specifically in treatment services. All three share some of the funnier sides to their work and the people they have met along the way, as well as how they have taken inspiration from those...

Rob is joined by Jamie, the Service Manager for Barod's Swansea services, and Hannah, a transitional caseworker for 18-24 year olds in Cwm Taf and Bridgend. In this episode we discuss whether heroin is the most dangerous illegal drug? We explore what heroin is, as a substance, but more specifically, we look at a variety of external factors that can lead to the use of the substance being highly...

In this episode we discuss drug taking at festivals. Rob is joined by Danielle, a young person's worker for Choices West, based in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and Jamie, Barod's Swansea services manager. Both have extensive experience of providing welfare support at festivals, across the UK. Both Danielle and Jamie share stories of people they have supported at festivals, when the indivi...

**Trigger Warning - Alcohol Use, Mental Health and Suicide** In this episode, we are joined by Steve, who talks about his previous experience of alcohol dependency, struggles with his mental health and how is life is now, supporting people affected by substance use. Steve grew up in Bromley, but by the age of 10, he was experiencing suicide ideation and not long after, struggling with self esteem...

Rob is joined by Sarah, manager for the young persons service Gwent N-Gage and Jamie, Barod's manager for the Swansea services. Both have extensive knowledge and experience of supporting and providing services for young people affected by substance use. In this episode, Rob, Sarah and Jamie discuss substance use among young people, what are the most common substances young people seek support...