UK BBC Radio 5 Live to cover benzodiazepines - Sunday 20th December

Thanks, Claudia, for what you said. I'm shocked, actually, that David Healy has gone this route. The things you mentioned - exercise, psychotherapy, family therapy, placebo being just as good or better than ADs and ECT, etc., that don't produce brain damage - WHY is he not promoting these for good health??

 

Money = corruption. It seems that this is the case with so many companies, medical and otherwise, and individuals. What is behind David Healy's promotion of ECT? I wonder. Does he really think something like this would help or is he being paid off in some way? There are always suspicions.

 

Good for you having a spy in there!! I would certainly like to know what that person finds out.

 

Each session 1200 euros. And the money adds up because there are a number of sessions that a patient endures. So sad...

 

Nazi Germany - yes, if companies aren't reined in, they go as far as they dare to go, leaving much damage in their wake.

Sounds good, Fiona! However, I'm not clear on the role of the Royals, and how they might get involved in something like this.

 

The Royals support charities.  I am in touch with the founder of APRIL - it is her idea.  She would be in a good position to approach them as she has done such a lot of campaigning over a number of years.  Of course it may be all pie in the sky!!

 

http://www.april.org.uk/main/index.php?uid=269&rand=0.87494000%201267802994

 

Fiona 

 

Oh, I see! I've definitely heard of some charity work, but this whole issue seems quite charged with emotion. Isn't it too controversial? There's possible blame to be laid -- at least, that's part of the picture. I thought the Royals might stay away from such things. Again, it's hard to know from across the pond. Obviously, William and Kate seem to represent something a bit different, a bit more progressive and modern. Perhaps they know people who've been touched by these issues.

 

Personally, I'd like to see more medical professionals speaking up too. It's very much their responsibility to take action and be leaders in the field of health care. Integrity and honesty should be essential elements of their work in this area. And what's happening in the House of Lords these days? Anything? I'm sure it's Christmas break now, isn't it?

Hi Lapis

 

You know, I was thinking the same thing.  It may well be too controversial for the Royals to get involved.  :'( :'(

 

As for the APPG, it is in the House of Commons - I got that wrong.  I thought it was in the House of Lords.  The group consists of members of both Houses.  They had a meeting in November.  Minutes still not on their website though I have seen a draft.  They had agreed to do a scoping exercise for a national helpline.  It is very difficult.  If they set one up and find there is a lot of demand, there are no services available to help them.  I think they should go ahead anyway.  It is the only way to show that people are suffering and want help.

 

Radio Programme is tomorrow.  It would be great if people could make the effort to listen, but more importantly contact the programme.  There will be an email address I am sure.  Just say how awful it is trying to get off these drugs.  You don't have to mention which country you live in!!!  :D

 

I will email them.  They haven't phoned me back so I won't be a participant.

 

Very angry that once again those of us on benzos prescribed by our doctors have been marginalised.

 

I appreciate that the stories in the programme were tragic and needed to be reported but it just feels that those of us who have lost our lives to benzos do not get the coverage or the justice we deserve.

 

Please write to the BBC.  It does not matter which country you are in, tell them how horrendous it is to withdraw from these drugs.

 

 

write to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

 

put this as the subject heading

 

Stressdrug-35124880

 

 

Not sure who will read them

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35124880

 

 

Please write to the BBC.  It does not matter which country you are in, tell them how horrendous it is to withdraw from these drugs.

 

 

write to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

 

put this as the subject heading

 

Stressdrug-35124880

 

 

Not sure who will read them

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35124880

 

I did Fiona, I went straight to the point.....no pussy footing about myself.

If they don't get it now.....they never will.

Thanks, Claudia but to be honest most people won't even take the time to write an email.  It isn't a lot to ask.

 

Without wider support, there is no chance of mounting a successful campaign.

 

Fiona 

 

 

Very angry that once again those of us on benzos prescribed by our doctors have been marginalised.

 

I appreciate that the stories in the programme were tragic and needed to be reported but it just feels that those of us who have lost our lives to benzos do not get the coverage or the justice we deserve.

 

Please write to the BBC.  It does not matter which country you are in, tell them how horrendous it is to withdraw from these drugs.

 

 

write to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

 

put this as the subject heading

 

Stressdrug-35124880

 

 

Not sure who will read them

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35124880

 

Hi Fiona,

The second part of the section on benzodiazepines did, indeed, discuss the issue of people becoming involuntarily dependent on the medications and the role of the doctor. A person called in to describe her experience, and the doctor mentioned that benzos shouldn't be taken for longer than four weeks. Another person's letter was read out on the program. They also got into the issue of addiction and drug seeking behaviour.

 

It's not as if they ignored the important issues. It's just a very busy program with a lot of news/sports/other items, so there's little time to get into the issue very well.

 

At 40 minutes into the program, I've heard a number of important issues mentioned. Can you please clarify what it is you were expecting to hear and why you feel "marginalised"? I'm not familiar with the program, but as a listener from Canada, I'm impressed that they're addressing it at all. I'd like to hear it addressed on our national public broadcaster too, at least to get the some of the issues out there.

 

Obviously, I'd like to see an investigative journalism program take this issue and blow it open. But this BBC program doesn't appear to delve into its subjects in detail. Why not pitch idea to an appropriate BBC program then? Maybe someone can contact the producers via email and follow up with a phone call. Pitch the idea with good info that they can take a look at. Offer a guest speaker. Would Dr. Ashton or Dr. Lader be interested in speaking on air again? Are there other medical professionals who can speak to the important issues over there?

 

 

 

 

 

Very angry that once again those of us on benzos prescribed by our doctors have been marginalised.

 

I appreciate that the stories in the programme were tragic and needed to be reported but it just feels that those of us who have lost our lives to benzos do not get the coverage or the justice we deserve.

 

Please write to the BBC.  It does not matter which country you are in, tell them how horrendous it is to withdraw from these drugs.

 

write to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

 

put this as the subject heading

 

Stressdrug-35124880

 

Not sure who will read them

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35124880

 

Hi Fiona,

The second part of the section on benzodiazepines did, indeed, discuss the issue of people becoming involuntarily dependent on the medications and the role of the doctor. A person called in to describe her experience, and the doctor mentioned that benzos shouldn't be taken for longer than four weeks. Another person's letter was read out on the program. They also got into the issue of addiction and drug seeking behaviour.

 

It's not as if they ignored the important issues. It's just a very busy program with a lot of news/sports/other items, so there's little time to get into the issue very well.

 

At 40 minutes into the program, I've heard a number of important issues mentioned. Can you please clarify what it is you were expecting to hear and why you feel "marginalised"? I'm not familiar with the program, but as a listener from Canada, I'm impressed that they're addressing it at all. I'd like to hear it addressed on our national public broadcaster too, at least to get the some of the issues out there.

 

Obviously, I'd like to see an investigative journalism program take this issue and blow it open. But this BBC program doesn't appear to delve into its subjects in detail. Why not pitch idea to an appropriate BBC program then? Maybe someone can contact the producers via email and follow up with a phone call. Pitch the idea with good info that they can take a look at. Offer a guest speaker. Would Dr. Ashton or Dr. Lader be interested in speaking on air again? Are there other medical professionals who can speak to the important issues over there?

 

Hi Lapis

 

You are absolutely right.  From an objective point of view it was a well-balanced programme and I thought they did do a good job.  Obviously the impetus for the programme was the deaths of these young men so inevitably the primary focus was on that.  However, on an emotional level, I felt very angry and upset that once again the whole story about the prescribed benzos was not told.  I guess we all want a full-length documentary going over the last five decades and asking why this issue has been ignored and continues to be ignored by the British Government.  The illegal trade in benzos receives more media attention, there are specialist drug addiction services available, however inadequate they may be, yet those of us on prescribed benzos get less attention and there are no services.  I think we deserve parity with illegal drug addicts.

 

I have written to all the documentary programmes I can think of here in the UK and don't get a reply even.  Perhaps the media think is an old story, not newsworthy.  It all adds to the sense of hurt though at what has happened.  There are plenty of people who would speak, Malcolm Lader is one of them.  Heather Ashton is an old lady now, late 80s and not well.

 

It is just hard to take at times.

 

Thanks for being supportive.

 

Fiona 

Fiona, I just listened to the broadcast, should I respond to the site on the program page?. and I have been trying to find what you would like for us to

 

to say in the email, but can't find it. Thanks again, for what you are doing, Someday it will be dealt with. 

Hi begood

 

Just send an email to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

 

and put this as the subject heading  Stressdrug-35124880

 

Just tell them how difficult it is to withdraw from benzodiazepines and that there is no help available.  This is true for all of us, wherever we are.  You don't have to write a lot.  I know you have had a very difficult time and have had several attempts at getting off the drugs.  Just described your experience.

 

You don't have to go into any of the bigger issues such as the lack of action of the UK Government.  I am hoping that if they receive a lot of emails describing how terrible it is, this might just spark more interest in the subject and perhaps nudge someone into doing a TV documentary. It is a long shot I know but it doesn't take much effort to write an email unless people are desperately ill or cognitively impaired as I was for a long time.

 

Hugs

 

Fiona 

 

Lapis

 

I just emailed Professor Malcolm Lader!!!  :thumbsup:

 

I hadn't thought of doing that before.

 

Fiona  :)

Hey Fiona,

The media get lots and lots of pitches for all kinds of things. An idea may be overlooked for many reasons, and one should never expect a reply. In my experience, a pitch has to be done properly, with good back-up materials to support it, as well as appropriate available guests -- depending on what type of program it is. It's best to address specific producers, if possible, and then follow up with a phone call, e.g. "Hi! I'm so-and-so, and I sent you a media release/idea for a story. Did you receive it? Can I send you any further information? Is it something you might be interested in covering on your program?" Etc., Etc.

 

It requires effort and organization, and if it ties into a current issue that's already in the news, then all the better.

 

I'd start by checking with Dr. Ashton and Dr. Lader and any other doctor you think might be able to address some of the issues from a medical standpoint. See if they want to speak on air/on camera. Then do a pitch based on their availability. Also, gather appropriate articles from medical journals that pertain to the topic, and use them as references. Pull out some quotes and put them in your pitch.

 

If there are other possible guests -- e.g. those who have been through it and/or those who work in the field of helping people get off benzos -- then put those names in there too. Maybe a pitch can be sent when there's another CEPUK or APPG-PDD meeting/event, and one of the participants can be offered as a guest. Maybe that BMA document can be discussed on air by someone who participated in putting it together.

 

Anyway, these are just a few ideas.

 

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for all the support and suggestions, Lapis.  I will think about all the ideas you have put forward.

 

I just had a very favourable response from a prime time TV programme - my first reply from TV/radio so far.

 

They are passing my email to their planning department.  It is so hard not to get one's hopes up. 

 

Take care

 

Fiona 

Hey, that's great news, Fiona! Excellent!

Fiona, I sent my email about 30 minutes ago, hope it helps, but nothing ventured is nothing gained right. 

That is right, begood. I have written so many emails to journalists, TV, radio, etc and have had very few replies.  I just need one or two breaks and that might be enough to start the ball rolling.  One good newspaper article or one appearance on TV and my contact details out there in the public domain.  And then go from there.

 

I hope this will lead to something positive, Lapis.

 

I have just heard that the TV programme in question interviewed James Davies, author of "Cracked" when his book first came out so they do cover this kind of topic.

 

Fiona  :thumbsup:

 

I hope so too, Fiona. I still think that following up with a call is the best way to find out whether someone received your letter/email and whether there might be some interest there. Lots of things get lost in piles of pitches that producers and journalists receive.

I am sure you are right, Lapis but it is often difficult to find a telephone number for newspapers.  It is often just an email address. I have had some luck phoning but sometimes they just tell you to send an email!!!  >

Having worked in the field, I can say that publicity requires a lot of persistence and patience. There's a lot of rejection, and it's just the nature of the beast. Good luck with all your pursuits, Fiona!

Thanks, Lapis.  You know there is quite a lot of articles about benzos and antidepressants in the UK media when you start to look.  I can understand why there isn't a huge amount of interest.  There is a limit to how much coverage you can give to one subject.

 

Fiona 

If the publicity can be tied into something, then there's a better chance of getting another article or radio hit. For example, if there's another APPG-PDD meeting, or an event like "More Harm Than Good", or a case like Luke Montagu, then publicity can be tied to that. If it's a lifestyle/health column, and there's a new study that comes out, then an article can be tied to that. It seems that the BBC did another radio piece because there were some deaths that came to light. I remember when Whitney Houston died, there was an article about benzos here. At that point, the media went looking for the story about benzos.

 

 

 

:thumbsup:

Let's hope we don't have to wait for more deaths before the media takes an interest, though.

 

You're doing a great job, Fiona! Just don't take any of the rejection from the media personally. 

Hi Lapis

 

I don't take any of it personally but it is upsetting at times.  I know full well that they have so many competing stories/issues that must be covered.  And they have to cover what they think will appeal to readers and sell their papers.  All that kind of thing.  But the rubbish that is printed in the papers makes you wonder at times what the world has come to.  I am very angry that my local paper did not see fit to publish my story.  That I will not forget.

 

Fiona