Keeping people alive
Substance use, co-occurring conditions and harm reduction.
- Level
- Bitesize
- Learning time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Where
- Homelessness, Mental Health and Multiple Disadvantage
- Price
- £39
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Read the full terms
Certificate of Completion
Overview and Outcomes.
Overview
This module looks at record drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales, what co-occurring conditions are, and why mental ill health and substance use must be treated together, as NICE guideline NG58 sets out. It explores why people use substances and the stigma cycle, then turns to systems: Dame Carol Black's review, six questions for boards, homelessness as a wicked problem after Rittel and Webber, and Avanti's rapid sensemaking work on homelessness in Wales. This module sets out harm reduction as a service and policy approach that keeps people alive and connected to help. It covers five principles, four established tools, the WEDINOS drug testing service in Wales, practical steps for housing and hostels, common objections, what is lawful where in England and Wales as at late 2026, a matrix for leading when evidence and public support diverge, and licensed drug checking by The Loop.
What you'll develop
In this Bitesize, you will develop the ability to:
- Explain co-occurring conditions and the principle in NICE guideline NG58 that no one should be excluded from one service because of the other condition.
- Compare sequential or parallel care with integrated care, and describe how stigma, through labels and exclusion, can drive harm.
- Use the six system questions and a wicked problem lens to assess how well your local system serves people with co-occurring conditions.
- Explain why keeping people alive is the first outcome, and describe the five principles and four tools of harm reduction.
- Apply practical harm reduction steps in housing and hostels, including naloxone, disclosure without penalty and welfare checks at known moments of risk.
- Judge how to lead on contested ground, weighing objections, the legal position in England and Wales, and the balance of evidence and public support.
The Modules.
1 hour 15 minutes of learning.
- 06Substance Use and Co-occurring ConditionsThis module looks at record drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales, what co-occurring conditions are, and why mental ill health and substance use must be treated together, as NICE guideline NG58 sets out. It explores why people use substances and the stigma cycle, then turns to systems: Dame Carol Black's review, six questions for boards, homelessness as a wicked problem after Rittel and Webber, and Avanti's rapid sensemaking work on homelessness in Wales.40 min
- 07Harm Reduction: Keeping People AliveThis module sets out harm reduction as a service and policy approach that keeps people alive and connected to help. It covers five principles, four established tools, the WEDINOS drug testing service in Wales, practical steps for housing and hostels, common objections, what is lawful where in England and Wales as at late 2026, a matrix for leading when evidence and public support diverge, and licensed drug checking by The Loop.40 min
Keep going.
Part of the Homelessness, Mental Health and Multiple Disadvantage topic, also sold whole as No wrong door.
Go deeper, and pay only the difference
- You are hereBitesize, 1 hour 15 minutes, £39
- Next stepFocus, From crisis to home, 4 hours, £69. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £30.
- Explore, Behind every door, 6 hours, £129. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £90.
- The whole topicImmerse, No wrong door, 11 hours, £249. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £210.
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Prices per person. Read the full terms
Also part of: Every door the right door
Other Bitesize in the Homelessness, Mental Health and Multiple Disadvantage topic
- Hard edgesHomelessness, its scale and multiple disadvantage2 hours£39
- Minds under pressureMental health, homelessness and the law1 hour 15 minutes£39
- Two laws, one duty of careHomelessness law in Wales and England1 hour 15 minutes£39
- A home firstHousing First and psychologically informed services1 hour 15 minutes£39
- Voice and safetyLived experience, peer leadership and safeguarding adults1 hour 15 minutes£39
- Holding the system togetherWorking across the system and staff wellbeing1 hour 15 minutes£39
See all in Homelessness, Mental Health and Multiple Disadvantage