#02 Mat Southwell - EURO HEALTH Podcast

The guest on the second episode of the Euro Health podcast is Mat Southwell, one of the UK's leading harm reduction workers and Project executive at the European Network of People who use Drugs (EuroNPUD), an organization that represents people who use drugs in and around the EU and includes drug users as part of the solution and helps drug-focused groups in different countries. Mat Southwell has spoken openly about his own experiences of drug use in a past interview with the BBC. What impact did it have on his working life? What are the barriers to legitimacy and credibility for former drug users? How has his attitude to drugs changed over the years he has been working in the field of drug addiction? What is the difference between drug use and drug abuse? New policies in the European Union propose "addiction-free" treatment. Is it realistic to achieve an addiction-free generation? What impact could this have on drug users? “ It is not just the harm that comes with drug control but also lost benefits of not being able to explore the healing qualities of different drugs”, said Mat Southwell.

 🗣SPEAKER
                                                                                                                                                                                       Mat Southwell, Project executive at the European Network of People who use Drugs (EuroNPUD). He is an experienced drug practitioner and manager with more than 30 years of experience in HIV, drug use, and harm reduction. He founded the Healthy Options Team (HOT), a pioneering community harm reduction team, before going on to manage NHS as Head of Service for the wider health-based drug services in East London and the City until 1998. This included managing Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) programs and reorganizing drug treatment services to promote the involvement of General Practitioners and the effective management of people who use drugs with complex needs. In 1999, Mat Southwell decided to come out publicly as a drug user on a BBC documentary leading to his dismissal from the NHS and the loss of his successful private consulting firm. He also sat on the Board of UNAIDS for 3 years as a civil society representative and is now a consultant focusing on drugs and HIV advocacy with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and HIV. He is a high-level advocate with experience engaging with the United Nations and other global and European bodies to promote health and defend the rights of people who use drugs. Mat has produced several technical, practice development, and peer support resources that help with the implementation of good practices in harm reduction, community mobilization, and drug treatment. 

🎙EURO HEALTH PODCAST           

Euro Health Podcast focuses on European health policy by giving voice to leading experts. The goal is to bring complex and evidence-based information, which could lead to a better Europe. Podcast is hosted by Jan Klusáček.