OffTheWall

no.13 Spring/ Summer 2009

smack gear veins

l l

I n f o r m at I v e

supportIve

c r e at I v e

heroin: our experience

subutex scripts needles foil dealer scoring
syringe pins swabs
Also in this issue... Bath half Marathon // A new community Centre for Bath? solsbury hill // thrifty Cooking // Book reviews // sleep out

methadone bagels

dirty brown SKAG

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.

Environmental well-being Promoting local energy and energy efficiency. Helping the environment. Measures to reduce the level of road traffic. 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

What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is defined 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: Luke_Byron-Davies@bathnes.gov.uk

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

Contents
Bath half Marathon the Road to addiction... Methadone Part 1 Giving gear a bad name Methadone Part 2 4 6 8 9 10

heroin & Methadone: the Facts 11 solsbury hill it makes me mad! thrifty Food special otW Book club sleep out Art & Poems Whats on at Dhi A new community centre? next issue: homelessness
In 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.

12 13 14 16 18 19 20 22

18 12 16

off the Wall Magazine 15/16 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DE tel 01225 329411 email offthewall@drugsandhomeless.org.uk
Patron Midge Ure off the Wall editorial team Acting Editor: Rachel; Computer Reviews: Stephen (back next issue!); Books: Jim; Food words and pictures: Rachel Advertising sales Sean Kehoe (offthewallsk@yahoo.com) Contributors Justin; Kangey; Gemma; Sean; Jamie; Becky; Simon; Peter; Stu; Jim; Stephen
Copyright 2008 Drugs and Homeless Initiative. All rights reserved.

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

Picture special: Bath half Marathon

no pain, no gain...
Check out these pics from the day, courtesy of Gemma, and below we chat to service user sean Kehoe about his experience of the race...
What made you want to run and when did you decide to do it? 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. tell us about your training - when you started, how often and how much you ended up doing before the race... 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. have you run since the marathon and how will you progress with your efforts full marathon? Run? I have had difficulty walking since the 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 Sunday 6th September for the DHI - if anyone is tempted there are places but you need to see Hannah on reception asap as they are limited. Did you get a buzz when you finished? What were the feelings like? I was really pleased when I finished, I was determined not to be on the bus that picks up the people at the end. I managed to complete the course without stopping which was my real joy. My aim was just to get round and thought I would definitely need to stop. how did you feel the next day? The same as I felt for the next week in pain how was the organisation of the marathon? Obviously organizing a big event like this is difficult 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. At what point did you know you were going to finish? 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 I would complete it without stopping how did the weather affect the run? A lot was made about the sunshine and

how it made things difficult but I love the 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. Did you find the crowds encouraging? 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. Did you take water and did you need a wee? I took on board lots of water and lucozade which definitely 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. how has it affected your overall fitness? Im not sure if it has affected my overall fitness from one race but it has affected my 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!

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

how did we do?

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 superb times accross the finishing 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.

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

6-page special feature: heroin

the road to addiction...

Kicking off our key feature this issue on Heroin, is the first of a two-part feature by DHI service-user Jamie

was 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 five 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 had just 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 home to 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 first 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 first 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 kind of 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 buy it, 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 profit. Pretty soon, I was regularly dealing cannabis and amphetamines to friends. When I turned 16, my dad finally 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 benefits and dealing. By now, I was fully enmeshed in the local drug scene and for the first time in my life, I felt I was part of something. The others in the drug scene really seemed 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,after a 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 profits, but also the profits 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 benefits and spent almost every penny on drugs and alcohol. Id stopped any dealing through my time abroad as Id lost touch with

the others in the drug scene really seemed 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.

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 first council flat. 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 fling 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 first I was sceptical but on finding out how cheaply her contact 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 find 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 fine 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

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 influence, 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 me and I loved the respect that it seemed to times in the week and this soon progressed earn me from those within the drug scene. But my main reason for continuing was to every day. My girlfriend didnt want to try my girlfriend at the time who I truly loved it and we split. My dealer who supplied me more than Ive ever loved anyone. I knew with the amphetamines and cannabis that I however that she didnt love me. She was an sold, said he didnt want to do business with amphetamine addict and whilst she was with a heroin addict so I stopped dealing. Within me I supplied her with her drugs free of charge. a few months, my girlfriend returned to me At the time, I didnt view myself as being an and we started using together and soon she amphetamine addict because from Monday was addicted but unlike amphetamines, I to Thursday, I worked and did not use it. wasnt prepared to fund her habit. So we split My weekly routine for those years remained up for good. I didnt care. I had a new love in unchanged. I would pick up my drugs on a my life; heroin and I was willing to hand over Thursday evening, distribute them to those my whole life to this drug. Pretty soon, my old dealing for me and Id then stay up all night friends started to distance themselves from with my friends taking speed and playing on me to be replaced by other heroin addicts. In the next issue I will continue to give you the playstation. Friday, after Id finished work, I would take more speed, drink vodka and pop some insight into the life of a heroin user and also how I manged to stop using. an ecstasy pill or two. Id then either go out to I thought about getting clean, but wasnt the pub with my mates or clubbing with my girlfriend. If we didnt go out, wed stay at home sure where to begin. In the town where I and spend the night playing scrabble or having lived, at that time there was no help available drug fuelled sex sessions. Amphetamines seem to addicts, the local doctors wouldnt even write prescriptions for methadone. I had a to super charge your sex drive. large habit and knew that I would be facing a I would stop using amphetamines on a punishing withdrawal, with no friends other Sunday, try to go to sleep in the afternoon and than heroin addicts and no family to escape to, sleep through until Monday morning, when getting clean felt impossible. Id get up and go to work. Id work all week When I had the security of a home and without using, then Thursday evening the money, I would look down on addicts who were whole crazy cycle would start again. After about three years of living this way the amphetamines in the situation that I now found myself, never considering the events that had brought them started taking their toll. I began to become there. From a position of comfort, supported increasingly paranoid. My every waking hour by those who love me, I may have had the was spent on edge, thinking that my belief in myself that I could stop. Having front door would come crashing though never been encouraged to believe that I in at any moment, that Id be could be anything better, I felt unable to escape raided by the police. It was around this time that the path that I was on. I first came across heroin. to be continued in issue 14 ... Until around 1997, heroin

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

6-page special feature: heroin

Methadone: Solution or Problem?

Part 1 of a two-part discussion... the feature continues on page 10.

s 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. Holly works for DHI and was taking the group.

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 the heroin 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 shoplifting 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.

Simon: How TV shows Heroin is unrealistic I think ... Becky: Ive tried Heroin three times - Im definitely not addicted, and havent used it again. The first 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 ...

For me, gear used to be a beginning into my world of creativity not an ending where the eyes close and the mind goes blank leaving the user bereft of ideas.
Giving Gear a Bad name - see below

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 definitely ... 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 difficult 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 I would 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 ...

Giving Gear a Bad name

By stu Finch
So why were we having a debate in the first place? The following letter landed on the OTW desk and the strong feelings it provoked in the Off The Wall team led to this issues debate. Turn over for the second part of the debate and some of the groups thoughts on Methadone - positives, negatives and reducing your scripts. l Walking through Bath the other day, past the diggers and the rubble that have transformed our heritage site into a building site, I took a moment to consider the plight of 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 of mind is on the streets, I do have a roof over my head thanks to my parents who allow me to share their house. I do take pity on the vagabonds, and if they make the effort to entertain with a pipe or something I will spare some change. I wonder what becomes of them when the sun goes down, being a sheltered sort of chap, I really dont know what they do. They are, of course, as much Gods creatures as the professionals who pass them by each day. Whether heroin, the topic of this piece, is to blame or not I cant be sure without asking, which would be rather un-polite. The folk who give heroin a bad name by breaking the law and causing nuisance to obtain it I feel have a lot to answer for and make the business of keeping a drug habit all the more anti social. In the movie drama of my little life, gear has often 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 life when I use. I have never stolen or begged to obtain my fixes 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 Afghanistan and the brown powder never reached our shores. Its ironic that in November, we wear a poppy for remembrance yet to me it symbolises everything the forces and society stand against for the rest of the year. But heroin is in this area and there is no lack of it. I use it and it has helped me overcome a severe psychosis. My point is that if 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 self belief and a bit of love in your heart: love for yourself and others. For societys part, prescription drugs like meth and subutex need to be available more readily, not months down the line from when you first approach your GP Counsellors should have . experience of what a nasty 4am cluck feels like so that they can empathise and not just sympathise. For me, gear used to be a beginning into my world of creativity not an ending where the eyes close and the mind goes blank leaving the user bereft of ideas. I was a user for seven years and I still cannot say I am completely out of the woods, but with self belief and support from my family I never let the powder have too much power. I smoke and I have never played darts with the stuff, and although my habit is a bit selfish I believe I never directly harmed anyone and my mother would say that it made me a better person ( bearing in mind I have suffered from serious mental health problems) to some extent. I believe criminals who hurt other people motivated by addiction are a different breed to placid self supporting users. For me, gear has been a necessity, especially in a world that sends out mixed messages; for example by day its all fire and brimstone condemnation of scum drug dealers that are reported in the Daily Mail;; after the watershed, it can be portrayed as lovable rogues with an alternative lifestyle, for 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 facets to the drug world and the realm of heroin. For now, I am drifting around it taking care not to get sucked into the vortex; the black hole that can lead to untold suffering ending in tears. But thats life; 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 of social education heroin doesnt have to be a dirty word even if it is a bloody dirty drug.

10

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

6-page special feature: heroin

Methadone: Solution or Problem?

Part 2 of a two-part discussion...
o 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...

(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.

how do you go about reducing?

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 do more 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 confidence.

Methadone: the negatives

1. The hard facts of methadone are that it rots your bones, and damages your spine. It does bad stuff to your body and rots your teeth. (S: When you start using heroin, you stop living ... I lost all my learning years ... and Ive lost confidence 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. Stunted emotionally ... 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 confidence that if you come off it you might be worse off ... its seems a safer and happier place on scripts than off them ...

Methadone: the positives

1. You dont need to commit crime as its free, 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.

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 benefits 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 ...

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.

Feeding a heroin habit can cost up to 100 a day

heroin & Methadone: the Facts - see below

11

heroin & Methadone: the Facts

heroin
Heroin is a natural opiate made from morphine (opiates dull pain). Morphine is extracted from the opium poppy. Like many drugs made from 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 after a big night out. Brown is still heroin but some people mistakenly think its not as addictive. The effects Heroin slows down body functioning and substantially reduces physical and psychological pain. Most users get a rush or buzz a few minutes after taking it. A small dose of heroin gives the user a feeling of warmth and well-being. Bigger doses can make the user sleepy and very relaxed. The first dose of heroin can bring about dizziness and vomiting. Chances of getting hooked Heroin is highly addictive. Over time, effects of heroin on the brain cause craving and a strong psychological desire to keep on using. Also tolerance builds and the desired effects reduce so much that users have to take more just to get the same effects and even more just to feel normal or to avoid a very unpleasant withdrawal state. Drugs have been developed to help treat heroin addiction. These include opiate substitutes for heroin such as methadone and subutex (buprenorphine) and also drugs like naltrexone that block the effects of heroin so you cant get a high once you have become drug-free. The law Heroin is a class A drug. This means that possessing it can lead to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine. Supplying (which includes giving it to a friend) could lead to a life sentence and another unlimited fine. Appearance and use Heroin comes as a white powder when its pure (diamorphine), such as that used by doctors. Owing to the range of substances its cut with, street heroin can be anything from brownish white to brown. It can either be smoked or dissolved in water and injected or, if high purity, it can be snorted. Cost Prices can vary from region to region. The prices given here are an average of street prices reported from 20 different parts of England. Feeding a heroin habit can cost up to 100 a day. Purity A user has no way of 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 from overdoses occur. But the risk increases after a period off the drug because the bodys tolerance for the drug goes down. Overdoses can lead to coma and even death from respiratory failure (i.e. when breathing stops). If 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 of death due to inhaling vomit as heroin stops the bodys cough reflex working properly. Injecting heroin can do nasty damage to your veins and has been known to lead to gangrene (death and decay of body tissue, usually a digit or a limb) and tissue infections. The risks of sharing needles and other works to inject are well-known, putting you in danger of infections like hepatitis B or C and HIV/AIDS.

Methadone
Methadone is one of a number of synthetic opiates (also called opioids) that are manufactured for medical use and have similar effects to heroin. Methadone and Subutex (Buprenorphine) are used as opiate substitutes for heroin in the treatment of heroin addiction. thats prescribed to people trying to come off street heroin is usually a liquid which is swallowed, but it can come in tablet or injectable form. Subutex (Buprenorphine) is dissolved in the mouth. Effects can start quickly and can last several hours. Cost Prices can vary from region to The effects Opiates are sedative region. The prices given here are an drugs that depress the nervous system. average of street prices reported from They slow down body functioning and 20 different parts of England. The street reduce physical and psychological cost of methadone is 1 per 10ml. pain. The effect is usually to give a Purity Methadone thats prescribed feeling of warmth, relaxation and by a doctor is subject to stringent detachment. Methadone can help to controls, as with any other medicine, relieve feelings of anxiety. See also the so you can be sure of its strength and effects of heroin. that it has not been tampered with. You cant be as sure with methadone thats Chances of getting hooked bought on the street which may be an Methadone doesnt deliver the unusually concentrated variant and same degree of buzz or high as more powerful than expected. heroin. It allows people to tackle their psychological addiction and The risks Some people are sick the stabilize their lifestyle when used as a first time they take it and they can substitute for heroin. Such treatment become constipated. With high doses, may be continued for a long period the sedation dominates and users feel of time in some cases. In treatment, sleepy. Too much and you can fall into a opiate substitution therapy, such as coma or stop breathing completely. Many methadone and Buprenorphine, is women dont have periods when they usually aimed initially at obliterating use opiates regularly. If they cut down, withdrawal symptoms and supporting or stop, the periods may return. Theres stabilisation of health and lifestyle. a good chance of getting pregnant The dose can subsequently then be during this time if they dont use reduced slowly by agreement until the contraception. Opiates may possibly user is off the drug completely. There increase the risk of miscarriage and are still problems with heroin withdrawal still births and opiate users may give symptoms, but this method is much birth to smaller babies. Its not a good less severe than going cold turkey. idea to stop using opiates suddenly if youre pregnant as this can cause The law Methadone is a Class A drug premature labour and miscarriage. illegal to have, give away or sell Methadone may be continued (but often prescribed). Possession throughout pregnancy to minimize such can get you up to seven years in jail. risk. Your driving licence is invalid on Supplying someone else, even your a methadone treatment programme friends, can get you life imprisonment unless agreed by the DVLA following and/or an unlimited fine. receipt of supportive medical advice. Appearance and use The methadone

12 Get some air!

WAlK oF the issue

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

solsbury hill
Rachel gets off the sofa and stretches her legs...

ored, depressed, unfit, 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 now closed). 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 five 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 campfires, then back to where we started. Then back down the hill homeward bound - which was a damn sight easier than walking up!

the Facts!
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. At first 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 filled 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.

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

13

Whats your beef?

I just makesmemad t !
A Beef about Spam by Jim timoney

y 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, fitted kitchens or financial 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 fielding up to six calls a day that I no longer answer until I know whos calling. I am not exaggerating 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 Oldfield Park). When

I occasionally try 1471, I usually find 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 field 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 difficulties. When I ask why this keeps happening, 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!

Do You Speak English? by Jim timoney

ell do you? Or do you speak yank speak? I find 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 and other TV programmes and films (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 find 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

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

Recipes: Roast chicken

Roast Chicken Dinner with homemade gravy
serves 4 ingredients 2Kg chicken 1lb carrots 1lb potatoes 2 florets of brocolli 1 box sage and onion stuffing 2 cloves of garlic (optional) Margarine or Butter Flour salt & pepper Chicken oxo cube. Apples 1 lemon (optional) Method
Right then, first 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 the oven and give the meat a mild lemony flavour - fab. Turn the oven right up to

the maximum temperature, then pop the chicken 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 fluff 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 them up and cover them in oil, then pop in the oven when roasting the chicken - theyll

need around 30-45 minutes. 10 minutes before theyre ready, chop an apple up and chuck it in with them.

homemade gravy
When 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 flour. 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.

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

15

Recipes: Chicken soup

homemade Chicken soup
serves loads! ingredients Chicken Carcass 2 pints of water 2 onions, sliced, 2 celery sticks, finely chopped Couple of mushrooms 2 carrots, sliced 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 2oz margarine 2oz flour salt & pepper Method
Boil 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 and mushrooms for 5 minutes. Stir in the flour 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!

Check out these recipes over the coming issues...

The ultimate summer food special - and its all cheap and easy to do ... including ...

Barbecue!
l You name it, were throwing it on the barbie! With everything from Burgers, Veggie Burgers, Veggie Kebabs and Chicken Thighs for our main course, plus were doing our own marinades and salad dressings ...

Plus! Rachels luxury Potato salad (on the cheap!)

l Plus the best ways with a few lettuce leaves and some tinned tuna ...

Fancy yourself as a cook? think you can better our resident masterchef? send in your recipes, and pics and well print them...
(only if theyre any good!)

the Food Page

off the Wall Magazine 15/16 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DE tel 01225 329411 email offthewall@ drugsandhomeless.org.uk

16 Book news & reviews

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

Dhi Book club

DHI Book Club meets on the first Monday of each month to discuss a book read during the preceding month. In this section, Jim timoney aims to present a brief review of some recent Book Club titles, including his own opinions about them.
Dhi BooK CluB: BooK oF the issue

Animal Farm
by George orwell (Martin Secker & Warburg, 1945)
l The 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 informative introduction by Malcolm Bradbury, which helped me to understand better the allegorical nature of the novel. This was Orwells first 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 reflection of poverty - his own and others. In 1936, Orwell went to Spain to fight for the Republican side and was later wounded; his experiences there inspired Homage To Catalonia. Animal Farm was written during 194344, 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 beneficial 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 benefit those for whom they were originally instigated; that the supposed beneficiaries should oust those leaders who threaten to become too dictatorial and thereby simply replace one oppressive regime with another. In his introduction, Bradbury quotes Orwell as saying: I meant the moral to be that revolutions only reflect 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 read and 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 all human influence remains eradicated, are carefully whittled away or cleverly modified. 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 justifiably 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 first 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.

Coming soon: the shack

by William Paul Young.

17

Dhi BooK CluB RevieW

heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad (published 1902; Penguin, 1994) l Februarys 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 film, Apocalypse Now; quite where the comparisons and similarities lie escapes me, but I never really liked or fully understood the film, 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 literary style 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 first part of the book (about a third) particularly tedious, as there was so little action. It was also difficult 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 glimpse into 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.

Past reviews
Feel the FeAR AnD Do it AnyWAy by susan Jeffers l One of the best known self help books dissected, with ambivalent conclusions being reached. sCReWeD by Ronnie thompson l Incisive, no holds barred account by a prison officer of life as a screw. the FiRst ChRoniCles oF DRuss the leGenD by David Gemmell l Review of gripping, enthralling and entertaining fantasy fiction novel, part of a series of Druss adventures. evil sPiRits by Cliff Goodwin l Interesting and informative biography of one of the screens most volatile stars, Oliver Reed. oRAnGes ARe not the only FRuit by Jeanette Winterson l Moving and sometimes amusing first novel, in autobiographical form, tracing the authors progress from childhood to young adult. iF noBoDy sPeAKs oF ReMARKABle thinGs by Jon McGregor l Another first novel, this time a somewhat unusual one, with several threads running through it.

Dhi BooK CluB RevieW

the Wasp Factory

by iain Banks (Macmillan, 1984)
l I found Januarys Book Club choice a strangely compelling read, which I ultimately enjoyed, despite finding it bizarre to the point of macabre. This was Banks first novel, published twenty-five 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 dogburning 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 final cap on the whole bizarre story. Is this novel in bad taste? I suppose it could justifiably be called that, but it still succeeded in gripping me. It is definitely 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 Feature

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

Julian house sleep out

By Rachel

e 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 of companionship 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 fingertips 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 fit 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 released from 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 fit into the environment provided. Underqualified 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 figured 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 man tried 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.

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

19

Poetry Corner
the lucky one
The lucky ones are the weak willed, They soon crash and hit rock bottom. Pity the strong minded man Head out of water, but down trodden. Destined never to be more Than an internal struggle Battered psychically and bruised A life 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 friends with death. No stay away from death, man It stinks its flesh is rotten, Or underneath the cheapest grave Youll R.I.P. and be forgotten. But my words on deaf ears fell. There was no one who was listening, A whoosh of red in the barrel of a pin Bubbles in the light glistening A warm, honey coloured death, That swam into his soul The milk of joy curdled, soured Ended all his goals. And over him not a tear I shed, Just the passing of some mothers son Though hes gone, though hes dead It wasnt me; Im the lucky one. J. Yates.

time machine
Ive just returned from July, Where I didnt like what I saw, So I think Ill visit another year and try To hurt as I did there before. Take a trip down memory lane, To live and relive my pain; Then its back to the future of fear 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 of things well done And a hopeful dream for tomorrow. This time machine that I keep in my head Holds the key to the past in its sway. Its also an expert at forging ahead The hard part is finding today. Jim Timoney

Brrm, Brrm, Brrm, Brrm.

Traffic. Can you smell that smell? Gasping for breath in car fume hell. Toxic, black grime upon grime. Makes my eyes water, so I cry all the time. Constant, day after day From a to b and then b to a Belching, exhausted exhaust Breathing it in, no choice I am forced. Choking phlegmy cough after cough My lungs feel too small; theyre not big enough Breathless, I no longer run. Driving around is so much more fun. 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 Whats on @ Dhi
Monday
10.00 - 2.00

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

Tuesday
10.30 - 2.00

Wednesday
12.00 2.00

Thursday
10.00 - 12.00

Friday
10.30 - 12.00

Arts And Crafts Group

(Drop-in) 2.30 - 4.00

Womens Group
12.00 - 2.00

Gardening Group
2.30 - 4.00

Drop-in Advice service

(Last Thursday Of Each Month) 12.30 - 2.00

Communications Group
12.30 - 2.00

off the Wall

Magazine Group (Drop-in) 12.30 - 2.00

topic Workshops
Managing Emotions Developing Self-esteem Managing Stress Becoming Assertive

BAt
2.30 - 4.00

Abstinence Group
5.30 - 6.30

A Chance to Change Group

1.00 3.30

Abstinence Group
5.00 - 6.00

Book Club
(1st Monday Of Each Month) 6.45 - 8.15

A Chance to Change Group

2.30 - 4.00

homeopathy
(Waiting List) 2.00 10.00

Baad Auricular Acupunture

Football

Positive Change Group

Polarity therapy
2.30 - 4.00

Saturday
Gardening Group

Positive Change Group

6.00 - 7.00

Relapse Prevention support Group

(Drop-in) (No Referral Required)

A ChAnCe to ChAnGe What Pleasures Does Your Drug Use Bring You? What Difficulties Does It Take Away ? What Problems Does It Add To Your Life? What Good Things Does It Take Away? l This group aims to assist people to make their own choices about what, if anything, they wish to change about their substance use. l This 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 Confidence And Coping Skills? What Might Get In The Way? What Else Might Help You Achieve This? How Will I Keep This Going? l This offers clients the opportunity to

develop and manage their plans for change, overcoming obstacles and developing commitment. l This 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 Lifestyle To Support My Recovery? What Are My Triggers And How Can I Manage These? How Can I Prevent Lapses Becoming Relapses? l This group aims to support people who have identified abstinence as a goal. This group takes new clients every six weeks. WoRKshoPs @ Dhi Series Of Three Sessions Focusing

On Topics That Interact With Changes Around Substance Use. topics Are: Becoming Assertive; Improving Self-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. l This service is available most days and some Evenings.

off the Wall No.13, Spring/Summer 2009

support in Bath
Day and night support services in Bath
Julian house
Manvers Street 01225 354650 Day Centre: Offers tea and coffee/General advice/cooked meal 11.00 until 11.45 Mon-Fri: 9.30 until 12.30 Sat: 9.30 until 1.00 Sunday closed night shelter: Open every night 8pm-8.30pm overflow shelter: 15-bed spaces at no charge Open 10.30pm-7.30am No booking required, first come, first served basis, deadline: 12.00am.

the soup Run

The Soup Run is open at 7pm seven days a week, 365 days a year in the Old Cattle Market, off Walcot Street, in the centre of Bath, providing free coffee, soup and sandwiches. Each night of the week is run by a team from a different church. People use the Soup Run for a variety of reasons, because they are homeless they dont have a place to cook or their benefits have ran out. The soup run offers support, a point of contact and a social meeting place.

Genesis
Lunch Box St Michaels Church (Opposite Waitrose) Mon-Wed: 12.30 until 1.30 Egg, bacon and sandwiches, tea and coffee (50p - 1) General advice.

lifeline Centre
The Forum Building (Corn Street entrance) 01225 329263 Mon-Fri: 2pm-4pm Support and advice on all issues (including homelessness, substance misuse) A safe place to rest up. Tea and coffee available

sunday Centre Genesis

Sunday: 1pm 5pm Every Sunday of the year based at Nexus Methodist Church, Nelson Place East, London Road. Low cost dinner, warm and friendly environment. Tea, coffee and cakes. Sunday papers and games available.

Dhi also offers a range of aftercare services including access to a local gym, complimentary therapies, auricular acupuncture and computers with internet access.

22

id like to get football, golf, netball and maybe footy for girls off the ground to start with...

Feature: New Community Sports Centre

the man with the plan...

Interview with stephen Brindle by sean Kehoe and stephen Campbell

tephen 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.

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? otW: What is it? s: Ive always wanted to offer a wide variety of s: Its a community centre for anyone over 16 activities, wherever I am, and when I was with really though it will marketed primarily for the DHI I tried to get a golf club off the ground. unemployed and those with a drug or alchohol We got quite a long way down the road with background. I want to inject some fun into the pitch and putt course at the top of Victoria peoples life, by filling in peoples time a little Park - its run by a charity. The people at ... Most activities will be outdoor and we Entry Hill were very helpful and keen which hope to get people interacting. Although we gave me hope for the future of my own group. wont turn anybody away, we will put most Id like to get football, golf, netball and maybe advertsing and promotional material in those footy for girls off the ground to start with ... places where those who dont have access to then if all goes to plan, Id love to introduce the kind of activities were offering go. Wed rock climbing down the portway in Bristol, hope to get some editorial support from local maybe canoeing ... basically whatever people newspapers and magazines. want. I think wed try and canvass individuals when we go around local organisations otW: What encouraged you to do it? talking about the project. s: I come from a background of drug abuse and have struggled with orthodox methods otW: Have you got a place for your centre? of therapy for years ... I got a bit of an attitide s: Pretty much - though were having some towards it and would always relapse. I was problems at the moment. Its a church over trying drug therapies as late as 2005 but by Great Pulteney Street, and they are very ended up in jail ... I was fed up with dry keen to be involved with the project. Again, houses and needed some kind of outlet - I Ive got a little bogged down with the red was happy speaking to people one on one, tape, as theres some complication with but became paranoid in groups. I joined a charity numbers at the moment ... I think it little footy club in Bristol, and I found I was will sort itself out, but I am looking at some always looking forward to the game ... every alternative options as well. Friday night. This became my therapy - it was better for me than sitting in groups and being otW: Would you charge for anything? inactive ... especially as I didnt really want to s: We wouldnt charge for any of the activities be there. I moved around a bit and ended up ... we would have a provision for donations for in Bath and joined DHI. I got the DHI footy those who had the means to pay though. club off the ground and, after meeting with other organisations and drop-ins around the otW: How often would the activities be city, it flourished. We had a little trouble with available? all the red tape you have to wade through s: As often as possible, but we would try and like referrals - but with people just leaving 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 fine 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 influence 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.

Dhi is pleased to announce that by popular demand, the...

art group is back!

The all new 12 week programme starts on Monday 16th February 11am 1pm. Ask your key-worker to refer you as soon as possible.

relAtionships problem solving guest speAkers heAlthy eAting

self cAre support domestic violence

Womens group

sexuAl heAlth confidence every tuesdAy 10.30 12.00

A supportive And informAtive femAle only group covering the issues thAt mAtter to you. interested or unsure pleAse come Along

Activities refreshments