Category: Health
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Ending the war on drugs: tackling the injustice of our current policy
The UK has the highest drug death rate in Europe, three times higher than the next country on the list, Germany. Drug deaths are at an all-time high, rising year-on-year. At Cranstoun, we believe there is a way to tackle this tragedy – and now. I have worked extensively in policing policy – for five […]
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Getting serious about mental health
At the age of 17 I had left home, my future was uncertain and my mental health was dire. After being enlisted as a vulnerable child by social services I moved in for the half term to my ex’s house in Warrington while independent accommodation was negotiated for me so I could continue my education […]
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Cuts Cost Lives: Labour must embrace a health-led model to drugs policies
The United Kingdom has the unenviable title of being the drug death capital of Europe, with three times the number of deaths compared to the next country, Germany. Official data shows that drug deaths have risen year-on-year for eight consecutive years, which is in correlation with a decade of slashed drug treatment budgets. To add […]
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Better mental health will boost the economy
This government, like many before it, and predictably many after it, have declared physical health and mental health must be seen as one. They have advocated and congratulated charity efforts to dispel misconceptions about the issues and offered menial funds that are just enough to keep the system running in its constant state of crisis […]
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Devolution and vaccines
One of the main topics I have looked at throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been the impact that devolution has played throughout our response, with this period arguably being the biggest test of this system of government and whether it works. I have previously written about some of the issues that have been exacerbated by […]
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An update on computer says no
Earlier this week we released a paper, entitled “Computer says no.” It’s a piece of research that I want to write more about, with numerous developments that have happened since the release of the publication and additional analysis that I would like to add on. Publishing this paper, compared to some of the others that […]
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Why we need to vaccinate 12-17 year old’s
Over the last 7 months the vaccine programme has been a national effort with tens of millions vaccinated as hundreds of thousands were vaccinated a day, the peak being 20th May where over 800k doses were given, with over 50% of the adult population now being fully vaccinated. However, while we were initially ahead of […]
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An equal footing for mental health
With students back at school after two months of shutdown and the roadmap dates penciled in as we exit lockdown and reopen the economy, we are faced with the next big task in the aftermath of COVID-19. We have to deal with a mammoth mental health crisis, particularly amongst young people. After nearly a year […]