Off The Wall Issue 13

8/6/2019 Off The Wall Issue 13

1/24

Also in this issue...Ba ha Mara // A w cmm Cr r Ba?sbr h // tr Ckg // Bk rw // sp o

heroin:our experience

I n f o r m a t I v e l s u p p o r t I v e l c r e a t I v e

OffTheWalln.13

Spring/Summer

2009

smackgearveinsdirtybrownSKAGmethadonebagels

subutexscriptsneedlesfoildealerscoringsyringe

pins

swabs


2/24

What is the Idea?

The Council is acting as a direct link between you

and national government. Your feedback in the form

of a written proposal could make a genuine

difference to your area.

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is dened in the Act in broad terms,

and can cover anything which could improve the

economic, social, environmental well-being of the area

or promote participation in civil or political activity.

Apply for a proposal form and ethnic monitoring form from: Luke Byron-Davies,

Bath & North East Somerset Council, Policy and Partnerships, Keynsham Town Hall, Keynsham, BS31 1NL

Tel: 01225 396102 Email: [email protected]

Environmental well-being

Promoting local energy and energy efciency.

Helping the environment.

Measures to reduce the level of road trafc.

Economic

Provision of local services.

The number of local jobs.

Planning policies that help achieve the aims of the Act.

Social

Ending fuel poverty.

Promoting local produce and ending food poverty.

Increasing social inclusion.

To increase community health and well-being.

Participation in civic or political activity

Promoting greater participation in decision making


3/24

o t Wa Magaz 15/16 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DEt 01225 329411 ema [email protected]

Par Midge Ure o t Wa edra tam Acting Editor: Rachel; Computer Reviews: Stephen (back next issue!);Books: Jim; Food words and pictures: Rachel Adrg sa Sean Kehoe ([email protected])CrbrJustin; Kangey; Gemma; Sean; Jamie; Becky; Simon; Peter; Stu; Jim; StephenCopyright 2008 Drugs and Homeless Initiative. All rights reserved.

Ba ha Mara 4

t Rad addc... 6

Mad Par 1 8

Gg gar a bad am 9

Mad Par 2 10hr & Mad: t Fac 11

sbr h 12

i mak m mad! 13

tr Fd pca 14

otW Bk cb 16sp 18

Ar & Pm 19

Wa a Dhi 20

A w cmm cr? 22

nx : hmIn Issue 14 well be talking about the many issues surrounding

homelessness. If youd like to have your say contact us on the

address below, or come along to one of our meetings at Hay Hill

Church, every Tuesday lunch at 12pm.

C

3

1612

o t Wa No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

18

8


4/24

4

Pcr pca: Ba ha Mara

n pa, ga...Check out these pics from the day, courtesy ofGmma, and below we chat to service

user sa K about his experience of the race...


Wa mad wa r adw dd dcd d ?

I gave up smoking in October last year

and considered entering for the race

then but decided not to when I realised

the cost involved as I could not afford

it. After I started smoking again over

Christmas and my coughing and wheezing

soon returned I was lucky enough to get

one of the last places available running

for the DHI (free). I thought doing

something as big as this would mean I

couldnt smoke anymore.

t ab r rag - w

ard, w ad w mc

dd p dg br rac...

I had already started going to the gym in

August using the BADAS and DHI cards

that are available. I started concentrating

on my running more at the end of

January so it only left me six weeks. I ran

three times a week for three weeks but I

only got up to 4 miles when I got a bad

back. I became increasing nervous as the

race date drew nearer as I knew I needed

to train more but was scared I might

make my back worse and have to pull

out. By this stage I had told my children

that I was running The Bath Half, they

were really excited so pulling out was not

reallly an option. I decided to play it safe,

not train and chance it on the day.

ha r c mara ad

w w prgr w r r -

mara?

Run? I have had difculty walking sincethe race. I have not had any grand ideas

of running a full marathon. As I crossed

the line I felt that was about as far as I

could have managed. I am considering

running the Bristol Half on Sunday6th September for the DHI - if

anyone is tempted there are places

but you need to see Hannah on

reception asap as they are limited.

Dd g a bzz w

d? Wa wr

g k?

I was really pleased when I nished,

I was determined not to be on the

bus that picks up the people at the

end. I managed to complete the coursewithout stopping which was my real joy.

My aim was just to get round and thought

I would denitely need to stop.

hw dd x da?

The same as I felt for the next week -

in pain

hw wa rgaa

mara?

Obviously organizing a big event like this

is difcult and in the main I feel it was

done well. The worst part was perhaps

when the serious runners lapped us mere

mortals. People appeared from nowhere

frightening the life out of me with loud

halers, screaming at us to keep to the left

to let the super human beings past.

A wa p dd kw wr

gg ?

When I got to 8 mile I started to think,

hey you might do this, particularly as I

had only run 4 miles previously. It wasnt

until about 2 miles left that I knew Iwould complete it without stopping

hw dd war ac r?

A lot was made about the sunshine and

how it made things difcult but I lovethe sun. I remember looking out of my

window the week before and it was

snowing with heavy winds blowing so a

little sunshine put a spring in my step.

Dd d crwd cragg?

The crowds were great. They lined the

course all the way, even out by the dual

carriageway. I spotted a number of people

I knew along the way and their screams of

encouragement helped but the last mile

particularly was made easier by the huge

cheering crowds.

Dd ak war ad dd d a

w?

I took on board lots of water and lucozade

which denitely helped in the sun. My

body obviously needed the liquid as I

dont think I went to the loo for the rest of

the day.

hw a acd r ra ?

Im not sure if it has affected my overall

tness from one race but it has affectedmy belief. I was amazed my lungs held

out as well as they did. I know I can do it

now so I have more belief in my legs also.

Still smoking though!


5/24

5o t Wa No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

hw dd w d?

Daniel Carmichael: 2:07:53 (Client)

Sean Kehoe: 2:07:43 (Client)

Darren Barnett: 1:42:28 (Client)

Amanda Morris: 2:25:26 (Supporter)

Dean Morris: 1:37:39 (Supporter)

Rebecca Ewing: 1:53:36 (Supporter)

Jason Ewing: 1:53:36 (Supporter)

Robin Fearnley: 1:42:10 (Supporter)

Kelly Packer: 1:58:44 (Staff)

Hannah Weisberg: 2:25:25 (Staff)

Jamie Newman: 1:45:33 (Supporter)

Stuart Meddick: 2:11:29 (Supporter)

Dean Mahony: 1:59:55 (Supporter)

Craig Turner: 2:11:29 (Supporter)

Craig Packer: 1:42:54 (Supporter)

DHI would like to thank the runners

for their tremendous efforts in their

training and on the day in their superbtimes accross the nishing line.

Wed also like to thank the following

suppliers for their support for Team

DHI in their kind sponsorship; Safe

and Sound; A.R.H. Maintenance

Services; Oxford Medical; Giles

insurance; Canon

If you would like to get involved with

the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday

6th September, we are obtaining Gold

Bond places and will have entries for

next years Bath Half Marathon to be

held in March 2010. Please contact

Hannah Weisberg in Bath reception or

on 01225 329411 if youre up for either.


6/24


6-pag pca ar: hr

t rad addc...Kicking o our key eature this issue on Heroin, is the rst o a

two-part eature byDHI service-user Jam

Iwas born in Bath but have only lived here

for a few years. Until I was 30, Id spent

most my life living in a small town in

North Wiltshire. Im the youngest of ve

children. Ive one older brother and three

older sisters. At the age of 6 my parents split

up. My mum left, leaving my dad to raise us.

Within a year of my parents divorce, my

dad remarried. My new stepmother already

had four children. For a while, we all lived

together but it was far too cramped. My step

mother suffered from depression and several

times attempted suicide. I think that the

pressure of us all living under one roof hadjust got too much for her. So my dad moved

me, my brother and the youngest of the sisters

into another house. My older two sisters being

over the age of sixteen by then had decided to

move out and go their own way. Determined

not to have another failed marriage, my father

continued to live with my stepmother

and her children. He would come

around in the mornings to get

us up for school and again

in the evenings to cook us

dinner but then return hometo my stepmother. I can

remember being rehearsed

in what to say if social services

should come round asking

questions.

Children are very adaptive and I learnt

to cope with this situation. In fact, as a child,

I would have felt it was wrong to be unhappy

over the absence of my parents. After all, most

of my friends would have thought it great to

have their homes to themselves. So I would

tell myself I was lucky. As an adult, I see just

how inadequate my childhood was and realise

that the most damaging thing to me was that

it left me with a feeling of being unlovable. If

your parents cant love you, then who can? Its

only been recently that Ive been able to put a

description to this feeling but it is a feeling that

has affected me greatly.

I rst used a mood altering substance

when I was about 12 and got drunk at my

oldest sisters house. I soon started drinking

regularly. I had a Saturday job and with the

money I earned I would buy alcohol. Or more

precisely, I would get complete strangers or

friends of my older sisters to buy it for me. It

was through friends of my older sisters that I

rst bought Cannabis. I was about 14 and I had

wanted to try it for a long time. I had this nave

idea that it would transport me to some kindof magical psychedelic world, where I would

experience strange surreal visions. As a result

when I did try it, I was quite disappointed.

I actually felt the effect of the tobacco more

than the cannabis and so I stuck to alcohol. It

wasnt until I was about 15 that I tried it again

with a clearer idea of what to expect. I quite

enjoyed it and soon I was buying it

regularly. I think that one of the

things I liked about it was that

I was the only one out of my

friends who knew where to buyit, which meant they had to get

theirs through me.

Through scoring for my friends,

I soon got to know the various

members of my small towns drug

scene. I soon met people who were taking

other drugs and so I started to experiment with

amphetamines and LSD. At the time, these

were the main drugs that people in my town

used. Through buying drugs for friends, I soon

realised that if I could buy in large amounts,

I could make a prot. Pretty soon, I was

regularly dealing cannabis and amphetamines

to friends.

When I turned 16, my dad nally gave up all

pretence of being a parent and the youngest

of my sisters had left as well. With her gone,

my father thought the house too expensive for

just me and my brother so he moved us into a

bungalow and had the tenancy signed over to

us. In reality, it didnt make much difference.

Also, at the age of 16, I left school and was

accepted into catering college but after a year

I got bored and left. I got a couple of jobs in

kitchens but soon realised that I could make

more money dealing. So I started claiming

benets and dealing. By now, I was fully

enmeshed in the local drug scene and for

the rst time in my life, I felt I was part of

something. The others in the drug scene reallyseemed to care about me if only because I sold

them drugs and I felt a sense of belonging

that had always been absent in my life until

then. For those in the drugs scene, it seemed

perfectly normal to spend every day trying to

get asout of it as possible on whatever we

could get our hands on. At that age, I gave no

thought as to where this lifestyle might take me

or the consequences that it may bring.

At 19, I moved to the Netherlands, solely

because of their relaxed attitude to drugs. As

well as being the reason for moving there,aftera couple of years, drugs also became the reason

I had to leave. For about six months, every

other week I had been bringing Cannabis

back to England. I should have made plenty

of money through doing it but instead I would

spend not only my prots, but also the prots

of the Dutch dealer who was funding the

smuggling. Through spending too much on

Cocaine and alcohol, I got into a huge amount

of debt and eventually never returned, keeping

all the dealers money for myself.

I used his money to set myself up in a small

bed-sit. For the next couple of years, I lived

on benets and spent almost every penny on

drugs and alcohol. Id stopped any dealing

through my time abroad as Id lost touch with


7/24

most of my contacts. When I returned from

the Netherlands, Id put my name down on

the council housing waiting list. At the age

of 24, I got my rst council at. Around

the same time, I started casually seeing a

woman, who was a lot older than me. She

dealt cannabis and amphetamines, which if

I am honest, was a large part of why I was

attracted to her. Our ing didnt last long

but we remained close friends. One day

she made me a proposition. She felt she

needed to stop dealing. She was becoming

increasingly worried that if she was caught, she

might have her daughter taken into care. She

felt a sense of responsibility to her customers

and friends to ensure that they could continue

to score decent sized good quality deals plus

she also needed to cover her own habits.

Her proposition was this: she would

introduce me to her contact who could give me

credit on as much amphetamine and cannabis

as I needed. In return, I would supply her with

enough drugs to cover her habit. At rst I was

sceptical but on nding out how cheaply hercontact could supply the drugs, I soon realised

that this could be a great opportunity. I was

soon dealing to both her customers and my

own friends. Within a couple of years, my

business had grown and I had become one of

the biggest dealers in my town.

With my success came a lot of attention

and I stupidly wasnt that discreet. One

morning I was raided by the police. They

didnt nd much drugs, just a lot of money,

my scales and a list of people that owed me

money. They prosecuted me for dealing.Before my court date, I was advised to get

a job as Id be less likely to receive a prison

sentence. I got a job and it worked because I

only received a ne and community service.

My brush with the law didnt stop me dealing.

It just made me more cautious. I started

keeping my drugs and money locked in a tool

box at work and instead of selling in small

amounts, I set up several others to deal for

me. I still continued to get raided by

the police on a regular basis,

though they never found

anything except for a bit of

personal. I did think about

stopping but I couldnt

refuse the money it made

me and I loved the respect that it seemed to

earn me from those within the drug scene.

But my main reason for continuing was

my girlfriend at the time who I truly loved

more than Ive ever loved anyone. I knew

however that she didnt love me. She was an

amphetamine addict and whilst she was with

me I supplied her with her drugs free of charge.

At the time, I didnt view myself as being an

amphetamine addict because from Monday

to Thursday, I worked and did not use it.

My weekly routine for those years remainedunchanged. I would pick up my drugs on a

Thursday evening, distribute them to those

dealing for me and Id then stay up all night

with my friends taking speed and playing on

the playstation. Friday, after Id nished work,

I would take more speed, drink vodka and pop

an ecstasy pill or two. Id then either go out to

the pub with my mates or clubbing with my

girlfriend. If we didnt go out, wed stay at home

and spend the night playing scrabble or having

drug fuelled sex sessions. Amphetamines seem

to super charge your sex drive.I would stop using amphetamines on a

Sunday, try to go to sleep in the afternoon and

sleep through until Monday morning, when

Id get up and go to work. Id work all week

without using, then Thursday evening the

whole crazy cycle would start again. After about

three years of living this way the amphetamines

started taking their toll. I began to become

increasingly paranoid. My every waking hour

was spent on edge, thinking that my

front door would come crashing

in at any moment, that Id be

raided by the police.

It was around this time that

I rst came across heroin.

Until around 1997, heroin

had never really been available in the

small town that I lived in. Id never met

anyone that was a heroin addict. To begin

with, I used it to help with my speed come

down on a Sunday. I thought that it was

wonderful. It ticked every box of what

Id always wanted a drug to be. Under its

inuence, I would have strange beautiful

dreams and I stopped feeling paranoid. I

started to care about little else but taking

heroin. It stopped being just a Sunday thing

and soon I was using it all weekend every

weekend. I then started using it a couple of

times in the week and this soon progressed

to every day. My girlfriend didnt want to try

it and we split. My dealer who supplied me

with the amphetamines and cannabis that I

sold, said he didnt want to do business with

a heroin addict so I stopped dealing. Within

a few months, my girlfriend returned to me

and we started using together and soon she

was addicted but unlike amphetamines, I

wasnt prepared to fund her habit. So we split

up for good. I didnt care. I had a new love inmy life; heroin and I was willing to hand over

my whole life to this drug. Pretty soon, my old

friends started to distance themselves from

me to be replaced by other heroin addicts.

In the next issue I will continue to give you

some insight into the life of a heroin user and

also how I manged to stop using.

I thought about getting clean, but wasnt

sure where to begin. In the town where I

lived, at that time there was no help available

to addicts, the local doctors wouldnt even

write prescriptions for methadone. I had alarge habit and knew that I would be facing a

punishing withdrawal, with no friends other

than heroin addicts and no family to escape to,

getting clean felt impossible.

When I had the security of a home and

money, I would look down on addicts who were

in the situation that I now found myself, never

considering the events that had brought them

there. From a position of comfort, supported

by those who love me, I may have had the

belief in myself that I could stop. Having

though never been encouraged to believe that I

could be anything better, I felt unable to escape

the path that I was on.

t b cd i 14 ...

7t r drg c ra md car ab m f bca i d mdrg ad i f a f bgg a adawa b ab m f .


8/24

8

6-pag pca ar: hr

As a bit of background

to keep the following

discussion in context, heres

a bit of information on those

involved... Beckys experience

of Heroin is limited to injecting

three times and smoking on the odd occasion

in the past. She is not a user but has experience

of friends who are, and have been in the past.Simon and Peter are attending DHI to

address their history of Heroin addiction as

reccommended by the court. Justin has used

drugs since his teens, going from using drugs

recreationally to becoming a full blown addict.

He has struggled with Heroin use for the last

10 years. Sean is not a Heroin user but has

friends who are, and have in the past. Kangey

has limited exposure to Heroin. Hollyworks

for DHI and was taking the group.

Simon: How TV shows Heroin is

unrealistic I think ...

Becky: Ive tried Heroin three times - Im

denitely not addicted, and havent used it

again. The rst time I tried it it made me

very ill, and I didnt do it again for a year

... I was really drunk and tried it again ...

and it made me sick again. I always had a

perception of heroin as being scummy - I

was happy to inject speed, and Ive done

crack, but I always thought heroin was

some how worse ...

Justin: Thats probably a lot to do with the

media ...B: I think differently now - crack is far

worse than heroin ... cracks scummy

S: Heroin makes you weaker - crack makes

you more aggressive ...

J: I saw a study once, with some rats

taking both crack and heroin ... the

drugs were in the their food and it

was an experiment to see how the

rats reacted to the drugs ... the rats

had some of the crack, didnt bother

with other food or drink, just kept on

returning to the crack, and kept using it

until they died ... the ones who had theheroin tended to drink and eat before

returning to the drug.

S: Humans wouldnt act like that though ...

Sean: It maybe illustrates the need for crack

- its a more aggressive drug and people

maybe need it more..

Kangey:What is crack and how do you

take it?

J: Lets talk about methodone a little - from

my point of view its far from perfect, but it

does offer a solution of sorts. Many addicts

are happy to sign up for scripts and it does

help ... when there was none available in

Wiltshire there was a big problem with shop-

lifting and the the like. Heroin was a very

big issue and there were a lot of bad social

problems associated with it ... methadone

helped, but it does slow the mind up and

people do get stuck in a bit of a rut with it... I think subutex is a much better option.

When I moved from methadone to subutex

I felt like I was on speed! I had a sex drive

again, I wanted to go out and felt very

enthusiastic again. I realised how much the

methadone was dragging me down ... I felt

totally different when I moved onto subutex

... very motivated.

Mad:Solution or Problem?Par 1 f a w-par dc... far c pag 10.



9/24

9

K: So whats methadone and how do you

take it...

J: You pick up your scripts - I pick up

subutex weekly ...

H: Can a doctor make a difference?

S: Youre on your own on methadone and it

encourages you to stay on it longer ...

J: Its different with different doctors

denitely ... some doctors will happily keep

people on scripts for seven or eight years ...

B: Ive heard that methadone is harder to

get off than heroin ...

J: Yeah I kind of agree actually

S: Thats because methadone is so much

purer than heroin ... it mucks with your

head ... its a much longer withddrawal.

J:But with a methadone pescription you are on

a known quantity, its much more manageable,

you know exactly what youre taking ... with

heroin off the street you often have no idea what

or how much youre taking and its practically

impossible to manage your intake.

S:Yeah - if you take heroin on the street

you will simply do more if you need it ...and the purity will always vary ... youll

keep doing more, and it is hard to manage

that - no withdrawal

J: Methadone is more manageable as its

difcult to buy less than 10.00 worth of

Heroin at a time ... and you rarely ration.

K: Whats methadone and is it bad for you?

J: Its a man-made opiate used to stabilise

Heroin addicts ...

Peter: I was addicted to heroin for 20

years ... Ive been methadone scripted for

5 years, on and off. Without methadone Iwould be in jail for burglary - its provided

me with a lifeline ...

H: How have you found reducing your

scripts?

P: They havent been reduced at all over the

5 years ...

H: Have you used again?

P: Having a bit of a relapse at the moment ...

J:You have to be down to 30ml of

methadone before you move on to subutex.

B: My ex-boyfriend went from Heroin to

subutex ... went onto subtex 8ml ... but he

only had a very small heroin habit.

J:Yeah, that sounds right - you need to

have a very small habit to not go on to

methadone at all ...

For me, gear used to be a beginning into my world ofcreativity not an ending where the eyes close and themind goes blank leaving the user bereft of ideas.Gg Gar a Bad nam - see below

So why were we having a debate in the frst place?

The ollowing letter landed on the OTW desk and

the strong eelings it provoked in the O The Wall

team led to this issues debate. Turn over or the

second part o the debate and some o the groups

thoughts on Methadone - positives, negatives and

reducing your scripts.

lWalking through Bath the other day, past the

diggers and the rubble that have transormed our

heritage site into a building site, I took a moment

to consider the plight o the real homeless. One

character was sitting up against the wall with his dog

who seemed to realise his master was not a middle

class citizen. I am lucky that although sometimes

my state o mind is on the streets, I do have a roo

over my head thanks to my parents who allow me to

share their house. I do take pity on the vagabonds,and i they make the eort to entertain with a pipe or

something I will spare some change. I wonder what

becomes o them when the sun goes down, being a

sheltered sort o chap, I really dont know what they

do. They are, o course, as much Gods creatures

as the proessionals who pass them by each day.

Whether heroin, the topic o this piece, is to blame

or not I cant be sure without asking, which would be

rather un-polite. The olk who give heroin a bad name

by breaking the law and causing nuisance to obtain it

I eel have a lot to answer or and make the business

o keeping a drug habit all the more anti social.

In the movie drama o my little lie, gear has

oten been the heroine. She inspires, excites and

supports my imagination and indulgent delusions. I

always say that in my home, I keep 2 whores; Art and

Music, which are brought to lie when I use. I have

never stolen or begged to obtain my fxes over the

last seven years unlike people who commit heinous

acts to get theirs. That, to my mind, is what makes

heroin a dirty word amongst clean livers. Dont get me

wrong, drugs in general are a blight on society, (and I

hide my doings as best I can). I wish the army would

destroy every poppy in Aghanistan and the brown

powder never reached our shores. Its ironic that inNovember, we wear a poppy or remembrance yet

to me it symbolises everything the orces and society

stand against or the rest o the year.

But heroin is in this area and there is no lack o

it. I use it and it has helped me overcome a severe

psychosis. My point is that i users could keep gear

on a tight leash like that homeless dog and behave

like adults and not kids who know no limits, it is

possible to contain a habit without it spiralling. It

takes sel belie and a bit o love in your heart: loveor yoursel and others. For societys part, prescription

drugs like meth and subutex need to be available

more readily, not months down the line rom when

you frst approach your GP. Counsellors should have

experience o what a nasty 4am cluck eels like so

that they can empathise and not just sympathise.

For me, gear used to be a beginning into my world

o creativity not an ending where the eyes close and

the mind goes blank leaving the user beret o ideas. I

was a user or seven years and I still cannot say I am

completely out o the woods, but with sel belie and

support rom my amily I never let the powder havetoo much power. I smoke and I have never played

darts with the stu, and although my habit is a bit

selfsh I believe I never directly harmed anyone and

my mother would say that it made me a better person

( bearing in mind I have suered rom serious mental

health problems) to some extent. I believe criminals

who hurt other people motivated by addiction are a

dierent breed to placid sel supporting users.

For me, gear has been a necessity, especially in a

world that sends out mixed messages; or example by

day its all fre and brimstone condemnation o scum

drug dealers that are reported in the Daily Mail;;

ater the watershed, it can be portrayed as lovable

rogues with an alternative liestyle, or example Pete

Doherty and Amy Winehouse. These characters are

never called scum: but why not, I dare say that they

have got high on their own supply. Society needs

to be educated that there are many acets to the

drug world and the realm o heroin. For now, I am

driting around it taking care not to get sucked into

the vortex; the black hole that can lead to untold

suering ending in tears. But thats lie; trial and

error making us what we are. For a middle class boy

with cool parents it has been an interesting journey

that has not yet run its course.Thanks to places like BADAS and DHI the journey

need not be a lonely one and with a bit o social

education heroin doesnt have to be a dirty word

even i it is a bloody dirty drug.

Gg Gar a Bad namB s Fc


10/24

To bring our debate to a logical

conclusion we discussed the postives

and negatives of a Methadone

pescription and how you go about

reducing the amount you take without

getting stuck in a rut...

hw d g ab rdcg?J: You need a desire to get clean ... groups

helped for me, and I think people telling me

that I was better than this and should domore with my life ... I was lucky to have the

motivation to turn things around ...

K: Was it your decision to go to subutex ...

and are you still reducing?

J: Yeah, Im on 2.8ml now and still reducing.

No bad relapse, so I feel good about the

future. I think as I got help before and it

helped, I knew which channels to use if I

relapsed again and that gave me condence.

Mad:t p

1.You dont need to commit crime as itsfree, so you dont need the money to feed

your habit.

2.You dont need to mix it with heroin at all

(Peter: Ive been using heroin on top of

methadone, so some people do need it ...)

3.You dont inject or smoke it ... taken

orally, its much safer to take and its

hard to overdose.

(Justin: But its still not good for you

Simon: It rots your teeth really badly as its

full of sugar.)

4. Its no magic cure, but compared to heroin,

it helps you cope with your addiction and if you

have the right attitude, it can help you focus.

Mad:t ga1. The hard facts of methadone are that it

rots your bones, and damages your spine.

It does bad stuff to your body and rotsyour teeth.

(S: When you start using heroin, you stop

living ... I lost all my learning years ... and

Ive lost condence because of that. Because

I starrted using so early, I missed all that

time when I should be learning social skills,

interacting and so on ...)

2.You still have a methadone head. You

arent that different from an addict - still

perceived as an addict by some people.

3.Youre not in touch with your emotions at

all ... youre emotionally immature. Stuntedemotionally ... partly because methadone

saps you of energy and the will to interact,

and partly because you havent learnt through

experience to deal with other people ...

4. Lack of motivation ... lack of condence

that if you come off it you might be worse

off ... its seems a safer and happier place on

scripts than off them ...

P: I manage to get to the gym ... so I guess

its personal ...

Kangey: Is it like morphine in hospital?

J:Yeah, same kind of thing ...

S: Did you get depressed on methadone?

J: Yeah, very ... Im on subutex now.

S: If you use methadone and heroin ... you

get benets from methadone ... but youre

still using

J: Heroin didnt really do much for me but it

seemed cool at the time ... the idea of doing

heroin was attractive ...P: I get bored on methadone ...

Jus: When youre reducing on methadone its

like coming out of a dark room into a bright

light ... you feel, ultra-sensitive ...

S: On methadone, it feels like your

testosterone (as a man) is supressed ...

Jus: I dont think thats the case - it simply

dulls your sense, so it might feel that way ...

10

6-pag pca ar: hr


Mad:Solution or Problem?Par 2 f a w-par dc...

WhAt is suButex? Buprenorphine, sold under the trade name Subutex, is a long-acting opiate primarily used to treat narcotic (opioid) dependence.

It is most commonly sold as a pill that dissolves under the tongue. Its main purpose is to prevent withdrawal symptoms from occurring in an

individual, by stimulating the opiate receptors in the brain. Subutex has a greater attraction to the opiate receptors than other drugs such as heroin

and methadone, which reduces or removes the desire to take such drugs. Subutex binds so tightly to the opiate receptors, that taking heroin or

methadone will have little or no effect. This drug is generally used in narcotic drug treatment programs, and prescribed in varying doses. The effects

of subutex are less pronounced than those of other opiates, giving the individual the feeling of being somewhat normal once more.


11/24

11

hrHeroin is a natural opiate made rom

morphine (opiates dull pain). Morphine

is extracted rom the opium poppy.

Like many drugs made rom opium,

including synthetic opioids (e.g.methadone) heroin is a very strong

painkiller. Street heroin sold as brown

is sometimes used by clubbers as a

chill out ater a big night out. Brown is

still heroin but some people mistakenly

think its not as addictive.

The effects Heroin slows down body

unctioning and substantially reduces

physical and psychological pain. Most

users get a rush or buzz a ew minutes

ater taking it. A small dose o heroingives the user a eeling o warmth and

well-being. Bigger doses can make

the user sleepy and very relaxed. The

rst dose o heroin can bring about

dizziness and vomiting.

Chances of getting hooked

Heroin is highly addictive. Over

time, eects o heroin on the

brain cause craving and a strong

psychological desire to keep on

using. Also tolerance builds and the

desired eects reduce so much that

users have to take more just to get

the same eects and even more

just to eel normal or to avoid a

very unpleasant withdrawal state.

Drugs have been developed to

help treat heroin addiction. These

include opiate substitutes or heroin

such as methadone and subutex

(buprenorphine) and also drugs like

naltrexone that block the eects o

heroin so you cant get a high once

you have become drug-ree.

The lawHeroin is a class A drug. Thismeans that possessing it can lead

to a prison sentence o up to 7 years

and an unlimited ne. Supplying

(which includes giving it to a riend)

could lead to a lie sentence and

another unlimited ne.

Appearance and use Heroin comes

as a white powder when its pure

(diamorphine), such as that used

by doctors. Owing to the range o

substances its cut with, street heroincan be anything rom brownish white

to brown. It can either be smoked or

dissolved in water and injected or, i

high purity, it can be snorted.

Cost Prices can vary rom region to

region. The prices given here are an

average o street prices reported

rom 20 dierent parts o England.

Feeding a heroin habit can cost up

to 100 a day.

PurityA user has no way o knowing

what their heroin is mixed with.Recent tests have shown it can

contain nutmeg, brick dust, and

ground-up gravel but its more

commonly mixed with sugar, starch,

powdered milk, or quinine.

The risks Deaths rom overdoses

occur. But the risk increases ater

a period o the drug because the

bodys tolerance or the drug goes

down. Overdoses can lead to coma

and even death rom respiratory

ailure (i.e. when breathing stops).

I heroin is taken with other drugs,

including alcohol, overdose is

more likely. Other downers such as

benzodiazepine tranquillisers are

also associated with heroin overdose

deaths. Theres also a risk o death

due to inhaling vomit as heroin stops

the bodys cough refex working

properly. Injecting heroin can do nasty

damage to your veins and has been

known to lead to gangrene (death and

decay o body tissue, usually a digit or

a limb) and tissue inections. The riskso sharing needles and other works to

inject are well-known, putting you in

danger o inections like hepatitis B or

C and HIV/AIDS.

MadMethadone is one o a number

o synthetic opiates (also called

opioids) that are manuactured or

medical use and have similar eects

to heroin. Methadone and Subutex(Buprenorphine) are used as opiate

substitutes or heroin in the treatment

o heroin addiction.

The effects Opiates are sedative

drugs that depress the nervous system.

They slow down body unctioning and

reduce physical and psychological

pain. The eect is usually to give a

eeling o warmth, relaxation and

detachment. Methadone can help to

relieve eelings o anxiety. See also theeects o heroin.

Chances o getting hooked

Methadone doesnt deliver the

same degree o buzz or high as

heroin. It allows people to tackle

their psychological addiction and

stabilize their liestyle when used as a

substitute or heroin. Such treatment

may be continued or a long period

o time in some cases. In treatment,

opiate substitution therapy, such as

methadone and Buprenorphine, is

usually aimed initially at obliterating

withdrawal symptoms and supporting

stabilisation o health and liestyle.

The dose can subsequently then be

reduced slowly by agreement until the

user is o the drug completely. There

are still problems with heroin withdrawal

symptoms, but this method is much

less severe than going cold turkey.

The lawMethadone is a Class A drug -

illegal to have, give away or sell

(but oten prescribed). Possession

can get you up to seven years in jail.Supplying someone else, even your

riends, can get you lie imprisonment

and/or an unlimited fne.

Appearance and useThe methadone

thats prescribed to people trying to

come o street heroin is usually a

liquid which is swallowed, but it can

come in tablet or injectable orm.Subutex (Buprenorphine) is dissolved

in the mouth. Eects can start quickly

and can last several hours.

Cost Prices can vary rom region to

region. The prices given here are an

average o street prices reported rom

20 dierent parts o England. The street

cost o methadone is 1 per 10ml.

PurityMethadone thats prescribed

by a doctor is subject to stringent

controls, as with any other medicine,

so you can be sure o its strength andthat it has not been tampered with. You

cant be as sure with methadone thats

bought on the street which may be an

unusually concentrated variant and

more powerul than expected.

The risks Some people are sick the

frst time they take it and they can

become constipated. With high doses,

the sedation dominates and users eel

sleepy. Too much and you can all into a

coma or stop breathing completely. Many

women dont have periods when they

use opiates regularly. I they cut down,

or stop, the periods may return. Theres

a good chance o getting pregnant

during this time i they dont use

contraception. Opiates may possibly

increase the risk o miscarriage and

still births and opiate users may give

birth to smaller babies. Its not a good

idea to stop using opiates suddenly

i youre pregnant as this can cause

premature labour and miscarriage.

Methadone may be continued

throughout pregnancy to minimize suchrisk. Your driving licence is invalid on

a methadone treatment programme

unless agreed by the DVLA ollowing

receipt o supportive medical advice.

hr & Mad:t Fac

Feeding a heroin habit

can cost up to 100 a dayhr & Mad: t Fac - see below


12/24


G m ar!

WAlK oF the issue

sbr hRac gets off the sofa and stretches her legs...

Bored, depressed, unt, or whatever,

people keep telling me exercise is

the answer? Normally Id go down

the pub, and get pissed to disguise

the boredom, but this Sunday Id decided to

get off my ass and arrange a walk, if youre

fortunate enough to have some mates invite

them too. You know the expression the

more the merrier.

From the town centre of town in Bath,

get a number 13 bus from Bath Abbey to

Batheaston, (if walking from town, follow

the London Road, this is roughly a half-hour

walk) get off at Batheaston High Street,

opposite the White Hart pub,(which is nowclosed). Walk straight ahead, up to the

batch and keep walking, till you get to a

sign Solsbury Lane.

Walk up Solsbury Lane, it starts as a

one road lane, with no walk way on either

side, so be alert for cars coming up and

down the road, take the right, we walked on

up, the trek to the top was narrow and steep

with great views all around.

After some distance up, we reached

the end of the road. a big secured house

on the left and in front of us a large metal

gate. Over the gate we proceeded up the

grassy hill, then we reached a sign...

Little Solsbury.

Well worth the walk, nice breeze,

nice views, not feeling tired anymore but

exhilarated, so time for a smoke. Id been

up her many times before, for solstice,

partys etc. and had heard all kinds of stories

about the hill, passages to the underworld!?

King Arthur spending time up there? and

apparently an indented turf maze was

somewhere on the hill???? We decided to

check this one out, walking to the right,to the west corner off the hill - after a ve

minute walk - was in fact the maze!

It wasnt that impressive but something

to do, so we walked around it.

Then walked right around the top of

the hill, passing many strange mounds and

remains of campers campres, then back to

where we started. Then back down the hill -

homeward bound - which was a damn sight

easier than walking up!

t Fac!The national trust owns only the top of this

hill which was a walled village of the early

Iron Age from about 300BC to 100BC. Atrst the area near the edge of the hilltop was

cleared to a rock base on which substantial

timber-framed wattled huts were built. a 20

wide rampart was then made, faced inside

and outside with well-built dry stone walls

and lled in with loose stones. The outer

face was at least 12 high. After a period of

occupation some off the huts were burnt

down and the rampart was overthrown. The

site was abandoned and never used again.


13/24


Wa r b?

My current beef is about the

telephone equivalent of

spam, by which I mean the

endless unsolicited calls I

receive from so-called cold callers trying

to sell me double glazing, tted kitchens

or nancial advice, asking me to take part

in some pointless survey or telling me Ive

won a holiday in a competition I never

even entered.

These calls are the reason you will

always get my ansafone when you dial

my number. I grew so tired of elding up

to six calls a day that I no longer answer

until I know whos calling. I am notexaggerating when I claim that over 90%

of my incoming calls are from sources like

the above, a liberal sprinkling of wrong

numbers and people trying to make a

hairdressing appointment (my number is

similar to a salon in Oldeld Park). When

I occasionally try 1471, I usually nd the

number has been withheld; just as well

for the caller, who might otherwise start

receiving calls throughout the night to

see how (s)he likes being bothered at

inconvenient times.

Its probably my imagination, but such

calls always seem to come in the middle

of a favourite TV programme or when

Im cooking, eating, in the bath or about

to go out somewhere. At least all I have

to do now is rewind the tape when its

convenient, which is better for me (and the

caller) than losing my rag and hurling a

torrent of abuse down the line.It is time that these cold calls were

made illegal. If I wanted to buy double

glazing or whatever Id go to a shop or try

Yellow Pages or even the Internet if I had

a computer. I certainly do not want to be

bothered in my own home in my leisure

time. I did once register through BT as

a customer who did not want to receive

these nuisance calls, but I still have to

eld just as many.

Whilst on the subject of

telephone rage, am I the only one

who repeatedly has problems when

calling utility companies such as

BT and EDF? No matter how

many times I press the number

I want, the same message keeps

repeating, until I am eventually

put through to an adviser because

I am experiencing difculties.

When I ask why this keepshappening, nobody seems to know

what I mean. Another example of

technology gone mad?

Well, Id better bring this rant to

an end. I have to go home and check

my ansafone for important spam calls!

It just makes me mad!A Beef about Spam byJim timoney

Do You Speak English? byJim timoney

Welldo you? Or do youspeak yank speak? I nd

the increasing number of

Americanisms creeping into

our language both annoying and worrying.

Of course, this is not a new phenomenon,

but it seems to be becoming more and more

widespread, especially among the young,

and I believe it to be not only unnecessary

but also unpleasant to hear. It is also totally

not cool, a word which is not even new in

this usage, having been widespread in my

youth in the sixties (man); in fact, I think it

probably goes back as far as the American

jazz and blues era dating from the early

twentieth century.

There is simply no need to absorb all

the expressions heard in US sitcoms andother TV programmes and lms (many

of which I enjoy). (Aside: even this word

processor has just tried to tell me how to

spell in American). I accept that Americans

are entitled to speak to American (very

magnanimous of me, I know), but it is

sooooooooo not right that we should

besmirch our own beautiful English language

with this inane yankspeak.Even our commercials are peppered

with American accents. (Aside: computer

reprogrammed to use real English). I

sometimes heaven forefend catch myself

using the phrases I nd so offensive; I am

quite prepared to accept that there may be

some in this beef, besides the intentional

ones. Whatever!

Hey, if you think its so cool (theres

that word again) to speak like totally

awesome people who live halfway around the

world at the expense of your mother or father

tongue, by all means continue as if you

wont anyway. Whatever!

Time to sign off now. Have a nice day...

Missing you already.


14/24

Ra CckDr wmmadgrasr 4

igrd2Kg cck1b carr1b pa2 fr brc1 bx ag ad g2 c garc (pa)Margar r BrFrsa & ppprCck ox cb.App

1 lm (pa)

MdRight then, rst up chop up the cloves of

garlic and stuff them under the skin of the

chicken breasts - this will give the chicken

a mild garlicky taste. Obviously, if youre

not a garlic fan, forget it. Then rub some

soft margarine or butter into the skin

and season with the salt and pepper. If

you fancy, get a lemon and pierce it with

a skewer, then pop it inside the chicken.

This will cook when the bird is in theoven and give the meat a mild lemony

avour - fab. Turn the oven right up to

the maximum temperature, then pop thechicken in for 20 minutes. Reduce the

temperature to 180 and roast the chicken

depending on its size. A 2kg chicken will

need around an hour and a half. Check

that the juices run clear between the leg

and the breast - thats when its cooked

through. Part boil the potatoes and keep

the water for the gravy. Shake the potatoes

in the sauce pan until they uff up - this

will make them nice and crispy when you

roast them. Heat oil in a baking tray, on

the hob and add the potatoes. Fry themup and cover them in oil, then pop in the

oven when roasting the chicken - theyll

need around 30-45 minutes. 10 minutesbefore theyre ready, chop an apple up and

chuck it in with them.

hmmad graWhen chicken is cooked, save all the

juices and put in a seperate saucepan.

Bring juices to the boil, take off the heat

and stir in 1 large tablespoon of our.

Stir until smooth, then put back on the

heat and cook for 2 minutes. Take a pint

of veggie water, add to the mixture and

stir. Add an oxo cube, bring to the boil,simmer for 5 minutes then serve.

14

Rcp: Ra cck



15/24

15

Rcp: Cck sp

Cck rcp r cmg ...

The ultimate summerood special - and its

all cheap and easy todo ... including ...

Barbc!lYou name it, were throwing it on the

barbie! With everything rom Burgers,

Veggie Burgers, Veggie Kebabs and

Chicken Thighs or our main course,

plus were doing our own marinades

and salad dressings ...

P! Rac xrPa saad(on the cheap!)lPlus the best ways with a ew

lettuce leaves and some tinned tuna ...

Fac ra a ck?tk cabr r rdmarc? sd r rcp,ad pc ad wpr m...( r a gd!)

t Fd Pago t Wa Magaz

15/16 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DE

t 01225 329411

ema othewall@

drugsandhomeless.org.uk


sr ad!

igrdCck Carca2 p war2 , cd, 2 cr ck, cppd

Cp mrm2 carr, cd1 abp cppd par2z margar2z fra & pppr

MdBoil chicken carcass in the two pints

of water until all chicken falls of the

bones. Remove bones. In a different

saucepan melt the margarine and

fry the celery, onions, carrots andmushrooms for 5 minutes. Stir in the

our and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in

the chicken stock, bring to the boil and

simmer for 10 minutes or until, the

vegetables are tender. Tuck in!

hmmad Cck sp


16/24

16

Bk w & rw

Dhi Bk cbDHI Book Club meets on the rst Monday o each month to discuss a book readduring the preceding month. In this section,Jm tm aims to present a briereview o some recent Book Club titles, including his own opinions about them.


lThe chosen book for March was an

old favourite of mine and it was good to

have the chance to revisit it after many

years. This 1989 Penguin edition also

included an excellent and informativeintroduction by Malcolm Bradbury,

which helped me to understand better

the allegorical nature of the novel.

This was Orwells rst major best-seller.

Born Eric Arthur Blair, he had several

works published in the 1930s, among

them Burmese Days, Down And Out In

Paris And London, The Road To Wigan

Pier and Homage To Catalonia. The

contents of many of these earlier works

are a powerful reection of poverty - his

own and others. In 1936, Orwell went toSpain to ght for the Republican side and

was later wounded; his experiences there

inspired Homage To Catalonia.

Animal Farm was written during 1943-

44, although he found it impossible to

get it published until after World War

Two. The reason for this was that it

was seen to be a critical description of

the Russian revolution and of Stalin in

particular; during the war, the Soviet

Union (from 1941) was one of the

Allies against Nazi Germany and it was

deemed to be undesirable to risk any

alienation. As history shows, it was more

appropriate and benecial to publish as

the Cold War set in and the Soviet Union

became seen as the

potential aggressor.

In fact, Animal Farm

is not solely about the

Russian revolution.Orwells concern was

to show that all such

revolutions inevitably

do not benet those

for whom they were

originally instigated;

that the supposed

beneciaries should oust those leaders

who threaten to become too dictatorial

and thereby simply replace one

oppressive regime with another. In his

introduction, Bradbury quotes Orwellas saying: I meant the moral to be

that revolutions only reect a radical

improvement when the masses are alert

and know how to chuck out their leaders

as soon as the latter have done their job.

Regarding Animal Farm, Orwells

aim was to fuse political purpose and

artistic purpose into one whole (from

Bradburys introduction again). When

the animals take over the farm from

the humans all are deemed to be equal.

However, it soon becomes obvious that

the pigs (soon to be backed up by the

dogs) are setting out to gain the upper

hand, and Orwell works skilfully towards

establishing their ultimate supremacy.

During the course of

the book we see the

pigs become more

and more superior

as they learn to readand write, become

supervisors, adopt

their own HQ in

the farmhouse and

gradually turn into

copies of their human

predecessors, walking

erect, dressing and adopting human

habits such as drinking alcohol and

smoking. The Seven Commandments,

originally designed to ensure that the

farm is run in the right way and allhuman inuence remains eradicated,

are carefully whittled away or cleverly

modied. The inevitable result of all

this is that the Seven Commandments

are reduced to only one: All animals are

equal but some animals are more equal

than others.

Animal Farm is justiably regarded as

a classic of twentieth century literature.

Along with 1984, it made Orwells name;

both before and after his death in 1950,

it has been read and enjoyed by millions.

I rst delighted in it as a teenager and I

appreciated it even more on re-reading

it recently for the Book Club, perhaps

because I understood it more fully.

Dhi BooK CluB: BooK oF the issue

Ama Farmby Grg orw (Martin Secker & Warburg, 1945)


17/24

17Cmg :t sackby William Paul Young.

Pa rw

Feel the FeAR AnD Do

it AnyWAy

by sa Jr

lOne o the best

known sel help

books dissected, with

ambivalent conclusionsbeing reached.

sCReWeD

by R tmp

lIncisive, no holds barred account

by a prison ocer o lie as a screw.

the FiRst ChRoniCles oF

DRuss the leGenD

by Dad Gmm

lReview o gripping, enthrallingand entertaining antasy ction

novel, part o a series o Druss

adventures.

evil sPiRits

by C Gdw

lInteresting and

inormative biography

o one o the screens

most volatile stars,

Oliver Reed.

oRAnGes ARe not

the only FRuit

by Ja Wr

lMoving and sometimes

amusing rst novel, in

autobiographical orm, tracing the

authors progress rom childhood

to young adult.

iF noBoDy sPeAKs oF

ReMARKABle thinGs

byJ McGrgr

lAnother rst novel, this time a

somewhat unusual one, with several

threads running through it.

lFebruarys choice was based on Conrads

time in the Congo in the 1890s, although

it is narrated by the main character,

Charles Marlow. In 1979, it was updated

and transplanted to the Vietnam war in

the lm, Apocalypse Now; quite wherethe comparisons and similarities lie

escapes me, but I never really liked or fully

understood the lm, anyway.

I was a little disturbed by the prevalence

of sexist and racist phraseology, but it

has to be remembered that it was written

well over a hundred years ago, a time

when the initials PC meant no more than

police constable. Vivid descriptions of the

treatment of the natives, the rape of ivory,

etc., were all generally acceptable at the

time, of course. I found Conrads literarystyle rather tiring, indulging as he does in

paragraphs of a page and a half or more

at times, but at least the book was only

just over a hundred pages long! I found

the rst part of the book (about a third)

particularly tedious, as there was so little

action. It was also difcult for me to

decide the authors take on subjects

like the exploitation and treatment of

Africa and the Africans.

The second part of the book did

introduce a little more action, as well

as affording an interesting glimpseinto late nineteenth century African

exploration and contemporary attitudes

to it. Conrad acknowledges the humanity

of the indigenous tribespeople (still like

us, only different!) and submits that they

have the ability to learn and are intelligent

in their own way all very condescending

to most of us today, but not in Conrads

time. Conrad, through Marlows

narration, lets us know that he felt he

was learning and having his eyes opened,

possibly in spite of himself.Overall, I found this novel not exciting

enough (maybe it wasnt intended to

be); even the action and attack scenes

were described rather matter-of-factly.

Consequently, I found the book somewhat

boring; or maybe there is a hidden

message which I was too unaware to grasp.

Dhi BooK CluB RevieW

har o DarkbyJp Crad (published 1902; Penguin, 1994)

Dhi BooK CluB RevieW

t Wap Facrby ia Bak (Macmillan, 1984)

lI found Januarys Book Club choice

a strangely compelling read, which I

ultimately enjoyed, despite nding it

bizarre to the point of macabre. This was

Banks rst novel, published twenty-ve

years ago, to much critical acclaim and

not a little disgust and outrage. The story

revolves around a sixteen- year-old boy

who believably claims to have killed three

people and remained undetected. To add

to the macabre picture, we have his dog-

burning half-brother, recently escaped

from a centre for the criminally insane.

I found this a very disturbing book,

although cleverly written, and I was

particularly impressed by the surprise

revelation in the last chapter, putting the

nal cap on the whole bizarre story.

Is this novel in bad taste? I suppose

it could justiably be called that, but

it still succeeded in gripping me. It is

denitely not for the squeamish. I often

am about violence and horror, but this

book seemed to have no adverse effect on

me. I suspect I was too fascinated by the

overall strangeness of the story to allow the

macabre elements to disturb me. Read it if

you have the stomach for it.


18/24

18

Far


Me and my daughter Amber

and her friend Lucy both

aged 10 arrived at Alice Park

around 8.30pm for a sleep

out organised by Julian House, a charity,

to help raise awareness of the homeless

situation in Bath.

Armed with 3 packets of crisps, some

biscuits, 3 sleeping bags and 2 double duvets

and a large cardboard box, we joined the rest

of the rabble. The park was full of people. A

shelter tent was provided, in case of extreme

weather, and the park caf was open until

11.30 (selling coffees for 2.50 each more

expensive than even Starbucks in town!)

There was a buzz in the air. A feeling ofcompanionship and bonding as everyone

settled down, joining in unity to support a

common cause. The mood was jovial but

also serious.

As the night unfolded, the temperature

dropped. I could feel the cold from my

ngertips to the tips of my toes. I was

f**king freezing! Even with the three of us

snuggled together in sleeping bags with the

duvets on top, we could not keep warm.

We wondered what it would be like for

someone who was really homeless, who

had nowhere to go. We wondered how

they would get bedding, how they would

eat, what would they do in the day? We

discussed the reasons for homelessness.

People with drug and alcohol problems,

mental health issues that dont seem to t

anywhere. Not ill enough for institutions

but dont get on with a set up organised by

the government either. People who have

lost their jobs, or who have gone through

divorce, who have lost their children

through circumstances. People who suffer

from depression and cant hold it together

any more. People who have been releasedfrom prison with no life skills who are not

given the support they need when they

leave. Victims of child abuse, who suffered

so much that their childhood was stolen

from them and they became misunderstood.

People who have left rehab and dont t into

the environment provided. Underqualied

professionals making wrong assessments on

individuals and getting their needs wrong.

People who are newly homeless, who are not

aware of the help available to them because

they just cant pick themselves up any more.

Desperate people do desperate things.

Lack of sleep at night and nothing to do

in the day, homeless people wonder about

aimlessly some doing things they really dont

want to do. We gured there were many

reasons why people become homeless!

The temperature dropped again to -4.

Our blankets were wet and it was only the

cardboard box that kept the frost out. Then

in the morning came and we woke up tired

after intermittent sleep. We went to the

caf, which opened early. We were told we

could have a bacon sandwich. The mantried to charge us 2.50 each for a roll. I

went to the organisers and they sorted this

out for me. I kind of felt that there were

certain individuals cashing in on the cause

in which we were all trying to promote.

We gathered up our staff and went home

to our warm places and our tvs and stuff.

Between us we managed to raise a hundred

and forty two pounds.

Ja h sp oBy Rac


19/24

t lck o

The lucky ones are the weak willed,

They soon crash and hit rock bottom.

Pity the strong minded man

Head out o water, but down trodden.Destined never to be more

Than an internal struggle

Battered psychically and bruised

A lie reduced to rubble

But hes still strong hell carry on

Wont quit till his last breath.

That wont be long, because you see

Hes making riends with death.

No stay away rom death, man

It stinks its fesh is rotten,

Or underneath the cheapest grave

Youll R.I.P. and be orgotten.

But my words on dea ears ell.

There was no one who was listening,

A whoosh o red in the barrel o a pin

Bubbles in the light glistening

A warm, honey coloured death,That swam into his soul

The milk o joy curdled, soured

Ended all his goals.

And over him not a tear I shed,

Just the passing o some mothers son

Though hes gone, though hes dead

It wasnt me; Im the lucky one.

J. Yates.


Pr Crr

tm mac

Ive just returned rom July,

Where I didnt like what I saw,

So I think Ill visit another year and try

To hurt as I did there beore.

Take a trip down memory lane,

To live and relive my pain;

Then its back to the uture o ear -Next week, next month or next year.

My trips to the past and the days to come

Visit mainly regrets and sorrow,

With merely a glimpse o things well done

And a hopeul dream or tomorrow.

This time machine that I keep in my head

Holds the key to the past in its sway.

Its also an expert at orging ahead -

The hard part is nding today.

Jim Timoney

Brrm, Brrm, Brrm, Brrm.

Trac. Can you smell that smell?

Gasping or breath in car ume hell.

Toxic, black grime upon grime.

Makes my eyes water, so I cry all the time.

Constant, day ater day

From a to b and then b to aBelching, exhausted exhaust

Breathing it in, no choice I am orced.

Choking phlegmy cough ater cough

My lungs eel too small; theyre not big enough

Breathless, I no longer run.

Driving around is so much more un.

Revving, the noise that annoys

Big boys play with big boys toys.

Worn out. A road to erode

Tarmac to dust with each heavy load.

Endless, on and still on

Locked, gridlock its autogeddon.

J.Yates.


20/24

Monday

10.00 - 2.00

Ar Ad CraGrp(Drop-in)

2.30 - 4.00

Abc Grp

5.30 - 6.30

Bk Cb(1st Monday O Each Month)

6.45 - 8.15

Fba

Tuesday

10.30 - 2.00

Wm Grp

12.00 - 2.00

o t Wa

Magazine Group

(Drop-in)

12.30 - 2.00

A Cac t

Cag Grp

2.30 - 4.00

P Cag Grp

Wednesday

12.00 2.00

Gardg Grp

2.30 - 4.00

tpc Wrkp

Managing Emotions

Developing Sel-esteem

Managing Stress

Becoming Assertive

Thursday

10.00 - 12.00

Drp- Adc src

(Last Thursday

O Each Month)

12.30 - 2.00

A Cac t Cag

Grp

1.00 3.30

hmpa

(Waiting List)

2.00 10.00

Partrap

2.30 - 4.00

P Cag Grp

6.00 - 7.00

Rap Pr

sppr Grp

(Drop-in)(No Reerral Required)

Friday

10.30 - 12.00

Cmmca Grp

12.30 - 2.00

BAt

2.30 - 4.00

Abc Grp

5.00 - 6.00Baad Arcar

Acpr

Saturday

Gardg Grp

20

Wa o @ Dhi


A ChAnCe to ChAnGe

What Pleasures Does Your Drug Use

Bring You?

What Diculties Does It Take Away ?

What Problems Does It Add To Your Lie?

What Good Things Does It Take Away?lThis group aims to assist people to

make their own choices about what,

i anything, they wish to change about

their substance use.

lThis is a rolling group which takes

new clients on a weekly basis.

Positive ChAnGes

How Can I Manage Cravings?

How Can I Manage Tempting Thoughts?

How Can I Develop My Condence

And Coping Skills?

What Might Get In The Way?

What Else Might Help You Achieve This?

How Will I Keep This Going?

lThis oers clients the opportunity to

develop and manage their plans or

change, overcoming obstacles and

developing commitment.

lThis group takes new clients

every six weeks.

ABstinenCe

What Is The Next Step?

How Can I Increase Importance Without

Adding Stress?

How Can I Build A Liestyle To Support

My Recovery?

What Are My Triggers And How Can I

Manage These?

How Can I Prevent Lapses Becoming

Relapses?

lThis group aims to support people who

have identied abstinence as a goal. This

group takes new clients every six weeks.

WoRKshoPs @ Dhi

Series O Three Sessions Focusing

On Topics That Interact With Changes

Around Substance Use.

tpc Ar: Becoming Assertive;

Improving Sel-esteem; Managing

Emotions; Managing Stress

WoMens GRouP

Drop - In Womens Support Group

RelAPse PRevention suPPoRt GRouP

Drop In Talking Support Group For

Abstinent Clients.

BRieF 1-1 CounsellinG

An Opportunity To Explore Drug Or Alcohol

Use 1-1 With A Counsellor, Either To Help

You Arrive At Your Decision Or To Maintain

Progress.

lThis service is available most days and

some Evenings.


21/24

Da ad ng

sppr src

Ba

Ja h

Manvers Street

01225 354650

Da Cr: Oers tea and

coee/General advice/cooked

meal 11.00 until 11.45

Mon-Fri: 9.30 until 12.30

Sat: 9.30 until 1.00

Sunday closed

ng sr: Open every night

8pm-8.30pm

orfw sr: 15-bed spacesat no charge

Open 10.30pm-7.30am

No booking required, rst come,

rst served basis, deadline:

12.00am.

G

Lunch Box

St Michaels Church

(Opposite Waitrose)

Mon-Wed: 12.30 until 1.30

Egg, bacon and sandwiches,

tea and coee (50p - 1)

General advice.

sda Cr

G

Sunday: 1pm 5pm

Every Sunday o the year based

at Nexus Methodist Church,

Nelson Place East, London Road.

Low cost dinner, warm and

riendly environment.

Tea, coee and cakes.

Sunday papers and games

available.

t sp R

The Soup Run is open at 7pm

seven days a week, 365 days

a year in the Old Cattle Market,

o Walcot Street, in the centre o

Bath, providing ree coee, soup

and sandwiches. Each night o

the week is run by a team rom adierent church. People use the

Soup Run or a variety o reasons,

because they are homeless they

dont have a place to cook or

their benets have ran out.

The soup run oers support,

a point o contact and a social

meeting place.

l Cr

The Forum Building

(Corn Street entrance)

01225 329263

Mon-Fri: 2pm-4pm

Support and advice on all

issues (including homelessness,

substance misuse)

A sae place to rest up.

Tea and coee available

Dhi a r a rag

arcar rc

cdg acc a

ca gm, cmpmar

rap, arcar

acpcr ad cmpr

w r acc.

sppr Ba


2


22/24

t ma w pa...Interview with sp Brd by sa K and sp Campb

Stephen Brindle is attempting to get

a community sports centre off the

ground with the help of a church

in the centre of Bath. Currently in

development hell, we asked Stephen why,

where and what makes him tick.

otW: What is it?

s: Its a community centre for anyone over 16

really though it will marketed primarily for the

unemployed and those with a drug or alchohol

background. I want to inject some fun into

peoples life, by lling in peoples time a little

... Most activities will be outdoor and we

hope to get people interacting. Although we

wont turn anybody away, we will put mostadvertsing and promotional material in those

places where those who dont have access to

the kind of activities were offering go. Wed

hope to get some editorial support from local

newspapers and magazines.

otW: What encouraged you to do it?

s: I come from a background of drug abuse

and have struggled with orthodox methods

of therapy for years ... I got a bit of an attitide

towards it and would always relapse. I was

trying drug therapies as late as 2005 butended up in jail ... I was fed up with dry

houses and needed some kind of outlet - I

was happy speaking to people one on one,

but became paranoid in groups. I joined a

little footy club in Bristol, and I found I was

always looking forward to the game ... every

Friday night. This became my therapy - it was

better for me than sitting in groups and being

inactive ... especially as I didnt really want to

be there. I moved around a bit and ended up

in Bath and joined DHI. I got the DHI footy

club off the ground and, after meeting with

other organisations and drop-ins around the

city, it ourished. We had a little trouble with

all the red tape you have to wade through -

like referrals - but with people just leaving

numbers and me doing the organising we got a

good turnout. We had regular games at Percys

Boy Club and a few other places, but we had a

few problems with bookings and the like ...

otW:What activities do you want to offer at

the centre?

s: Ive always wanted to offer a wide variety of

activities, wherever I am, and when I was with

DHI I tried to get a golf club off the ground.

We got quite a long way down the road with

the pitch and putt course at the top of Victoria

Park - its run by a charity. The people at

Entry Hill were very helpful and keen which

gave me hope for the future of my own group.

Id like to get football, golf, netball and maybefooty for girls off the ground to start with ...

then if all goes to plan, Id love to introduce

rock climbing down the portway in Bristol,

maybe canoeing ... basically whatever people

want. I think wed try and canvass individuals

when we go around local organisations

talking about the project.

otW: Have you got a place for your centre?

s: Pretty much - though were having some

problems at the moment. Its a church over

by Great Pulteney Street, and they are verykeen to be involved with the project. Again,

Ive got a little bogged down with the red

tape, as theres some complication with

charity numbers at the moment ... I think it

will sort itself out, but I am looking at some

alternative options as well.

otW: Would you charge for anything?

s: We wouldnt charge for any of the activities

... we would have a provision for donations for

those who had the means to pay though.

otW: How often would the activities be

available?

s: As often as possible, but we would try and

have as much going on over the weekends as

possible.... I appreciate weekends are really

important times for those individuals with a

drug or alchohol background and - as I said

earlier - its important to keep occupied ...

its over the weekend that most users and

ex-users tend to relapse ...

otW: How would you staff the project?

s: I think we would all be volunteers to start

with - theres a lot of positive feedback from

members of the church - theres accountants -

all sorts, and lots of them would have the skills

that will help the project. We would have to

have some paid staff if it picks up and I think

that would be the long-term plan anyway.

otW: Is there any pressure for you to go to

church, given your strong ties with them?

s: No, absolutely not, they dont force any

churchy stuff on me ...

otW: Whats your name for the project and

how do you plan to reach people with your

message?

s: Still thinking about that, but any thoughts

the readers of Off The Wall have will be

greatly appreciated ...

otW: Any other thoughts?

s: Yeah - although its a pain at the moment

because we have this big delay - which is pretty

complicated - its given me time to think about

stuff and also to get some things sorted out

that I might have suffered for a bit later. Its

given me a chance to look at the big picture

... to step away from it all, get some breathing

space and it also means I can probably ne

tune my plans and hopefully end up with a

better project and a better deal for those who

choose to use it. Ive made some in-roads with

some local people who have the inuence to

make these kind of things happen and Im in

no doubt it will happen, we just need a bit of

luck and a lot of enthusiasm.

id k g fba, gf,ba ad mab f fr grff grd ar w...

22

Far: New Community Sports Centre


23/24

A supportive And informAtive femAle only

group covering the issues thAt mAtter to you.

interested or unsure pleAse come Along

relAtionshipsproblem solving

guest speAkersheAlthy eAting

self cAresupport

Womens groupdomestic violencesexuAl heAlth confidence

Activitiesrefreshmentsevery tuesdAy 10.30 12.00

Dhi s pleased toannounce tat bypopular demand, te...

art groupisback!The all new12 week programme starts on Monday 16th February 11am 1pm.

Ask your key-worker to refer you as soon as possible.


24/24

Off The Wall Issue 13

Documents

Transcript of Off The Wall Issue 13