1. Gina Dormer The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind
Drugs and Alcohol
Gina Dormer
The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind

2. Introduction About the speaker….. Presentation Case study
Questions/discussion

3. Potted history Psychology/counselling Health promotion: Smoking
Young people
Sex/HIV/AIDS
Crime and disorder
Addiction

4. Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind
AIMS
To support individuals and their families/carers affected by sight loss
To provide accommodation and care and community based support, education, activities and recreational facilities
To be ambitious and relevant
The NNAB was founded by Thomas Tawell in 1805 as the Norwich Institute for the Blind
It is still on the same ground which it was founded on
The Queen became the Association’s patron in 1955 and the charity changed to its present name in 1988
To help Blind and Partially sighted people in Norfolk by providing accommodation and care, a community visiting service, education and recreational facilities.
Thomas Tawell House – 36 en-suite rooms
Hammond court, 20 flats and sheltered housing
The community workers – Support and advice service
Norwich, West Norfolk, Gt. Yarmouth and Cromer Equipment Centres
Mobile Equipment Centre – Smaller market towns
Eye Clinic information service
Bradbury Activity Centre
Educational classes, Braille & craft
Sports and leisure activities such as sailing, walking, tandem, bowling, holidays, theatre & heritage groups, and much more

5. Sight loss and substance use literature review
Wide and varied
Degrees of linkage
Chicken and egg?
Qualitative research by Pocklington Trust, Manchester University and University of Wales
The NNAB was founded by Thomas Tawell in 1805 as the Norwich Institute for the Blind
It is still on the same ground which it was founded on
The Queen became the Association’s patron in 1955 and the charity changed to its present name in 1988
To help Blind and Partially sighted people in Norfolk by providing accommodation and care, a community visiting service, education and recreational facilities.
Thomas Tawell House – 36 en-suite rooms
Hammond court, 20 flats and sheltered housing
The community workers – Support and advice service
Norwich, West Norfolk, Gt. Yarmouth and Cromer Equipment Centres
Mobile Equipment Centre – Smaller market towns
Eye Clinic information service
Bradbury Activity Centre
Educational classes, Braille & craft
Sports and leisure activities such as sailing, walking, tandem, bowling, holidays, theatre & heritage groups, and much more

6. Headlines Definitions: substance abuse/misuse vs substance use
Definition of substances: as broad as smoking/alcohol/illicit drugs/prescribed drugs
3 main relationships between sight loss and substance use. Substance use as:
A cause of sight loss
A contribution to sight loss
A coping mechanism for sight loss

7. Headlines…….
Substance use may be a risk factor for sight loss or visual impairment, particularly when combined with other factors such as smoking and poor nutrition
Some prescribed medications being used to manage other health conditions (eg, epilepsy, bipolar depression) may also contribute to sight loss
People with sight loss may be exposed to higher risk of substance use and misuse, for example, living with chronic pain, stigma, social isolation and boredom, that may accompany sight loss

8. Recommendations
A need to make information about substance misuse and sight loss available in accessible formats
Training for all professionals involved in assessing, identifying and responding to both sight loss and substance misuse
Longitudinal studies and more focus on under 50s needed

9. Personal perspective
Substance misuse services to ensure staff, volunteers and service users are sight awareness trained Acknowledgement that some medications used in medicalised detoxes may contribute to sight impairment/sight loss People in active addition ordinarily do not prioritise wider health issues and may not make logical lifestyle choices. Holistic approach is therefore critical Greater awareness of interactions and impact of smoking, alcohol, drug use amongst health professionals and those more generally working within the addiction field

10. Case Study - characteristics and learning points
Doormat Munch
Multiple and complex needs – mental health, learning disability, sight loss, forensic history
Risk assessment and risk management plan
Holistic person-centred approach – package of care – multi-agency/multi-disciplinary
People do not come into services neatly packaged!

11. End of Presentation
Thank you
Questions?