In this episode, Rob and Jamie discuss all things ketamine, including the news in the last couple of months that the Government is considering reclassifying the substance to a Class A drug. We also discuss what ketamine's appeal is and why people use it, as well as asking whether it is a relatively safe drug?

The pair also talk about what a k-hole is and share some stories when supporting people who have experienced this phenomenon, as well as breaking down what ketamine-bladder syndrome is, along with harm reduction advice for those who use the substance.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.Please note this episode was originally recorded on 15th January 2025.

Rob and Jamie discuss all things cocaine, from the latest drug related deaths associated to the substance, the difference between powder cocaine and crack, and why we are seeing more people enter services seeking support for the use of the stimulant.

The episode also explores where the UK's cocaine comes from and how cultivation and production of the drug is at its record levels, again. Rob and Jamie also discuss the use of cocaine with other drugs and their respective risks, along with harm reduction advice for anyone use intends to use cocaine.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

We are joined by Lou, a trainer within the Young Person's Gwent N-Gage service, who specialises in the relationship between drugs and social media. So how do people come across drugs on social media and how easy is it to buy drugs online?

We also discuss what apps tend to be used to make such purchases and whether the quality of drugs differ and if it proves to be cheaper too. And if young people are buying substances online, where do they get their drugs delivered to?

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode of Drugs Unwrapped, we are joined by Judy Ryan from Melbourne, Australia. Judy was one of the leading campaigners for the establishment of a drug consumption room in her area of residence, in Richmond,

Judy highlights how she ran for local council purely based on a manifesto of establishing a DCR, and was astonished to learn of the support for such facilities in Richmond, given that she came so close to winning. This proved to her that people did care about people who use drugs and saw the benefits a DCR would bring to the area. Judy talks about how the DCR has been viewed by other residents, as well as by a local school, and the impact it has had on public amenities.

Judy is currently undertaking a Churchill Fellowship and you find out more about her research and her campaigning work, here.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode, we are joined by Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, author and founder and director of the drugs education charity, DSM Foundation. In 2014, Fiona's youngest son, Dan, tragically passed away having consumed a lethal dose of MDMA. Dan was just 16 years old when he died. Just 8 days later, Fiona established the DSM Foundation, aiming to ensure that all young people across the UK have adequate access to evidenced-based drug education.

Fiona shares Dan's story and how the charity, set up in his name, was established and how it has grown over the 10 years to now being involved with 700 schools across the UK. Fiona highlights why drug education is so important and what this looks like in practice, including supporting young people in developing resilience and effective skills to deal with a range of social situations that may involve risky behaviour, including substance use.

Fiona also discusses the play based on the real events that led to Daniel's death, 'I Love You, Mum - I Promise I Won't Die' that has been studied, taught and performed in schools, colleges and community youth theatres across the UK, Australia, Tasmania and Vancouver, as well as performed at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2018 by Lloyd Theatre Arts.

Fiona is also the author of two books:

For more information regarding the DSM Foundation, please visit: ⁠https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/

⁠You can also follow the DSM Foundation on Socials:

⁠If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode we are joined by Sarah, Verity, Jamie and Hannah, discussing stigma and whether it is something that can ever be eradicated. We also explore the impact stigma has had on people who have accessed our services.

We also discuss why stigma is such a big issue, given many people take substances in one form or another and whether current policy and legislation plays a pivotal role in stigma faced by those that use illegal substances.

In this episode, we are joined by Lynn Jefferys. Lynn is the Operations Manager for the European Network for People who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD) and discuss how harm reduction has changed over the years, how it is perceived, and implemented, across continents, and the invaluable work of EuroNPUD.

Lynn discusses how over the years people have fought for basic harm reduction and how its history is built upon people taking it upon themselves to show that such interventions work, and should be more widely rolled out. Lynn also discusses safe supply of drugs and highlights the work of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) in Vancouver as a way to mitigate the opioid crisis in the region. Lynn also delves into the work of EuroNPUD and the impact it has across Europe.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode, we are joined by Juan Fernández Ochoa, the Campaigns and Communications Officer at the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). Juan leads on the development of the Support. Don't Punish campaign, a global grassroots-centred initiative in support of harm reduction and drug policies that prioritise public health and human rights.

Juan shares the history of the campaign and how it has impacted on various drug policy reforms across the world. The campaign’s yearly high point is the Global Day of Action, which takes place on the 26th June, a date that historically has been used by governments to showcase their drug control “achievements” in coercive terms, and Juan shares how anybody and everybody can get involved and show their support for the campaign.

For more information on the campaign, please visit: https://supportdontpunish.org/.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.

In this episode, we are joined by Barod's CEO, Caroline and young person's worker, Hannah, to answer an array of questions including 'Where does Barod stand on discriminalising all drugs?', 'Why does using terms like substance use, instead of substance misuse or abuse, matter?' and 'Does criminalising drugs work to reduce usage'?

This episode was originally recorded as a livestream event on 17th May 2024 and the panel answer many more questions that were submitted from the general public.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this episode, please visit barod.cymru and confidentially chat to a trained support worker via Barod's Live Webchat Service, that is open 7-days a week, or call Dan 24/7, Wales' national drug and alcohol helpline on 0808 808 2234 or text DAN to 81066.