After nearly fifteen years in the AOD field, it seems that the same old conflicts within the field keep on popping up: harm minimisation versus zero tolerance and whether ex-users make the best or worst AOD workers are two that come to mind.

For me over the past decade, the lack of consensus is best portrayed by two individuals: Dr Alex Wodak and Major Brian Watters. Both men are highly educated and both are passionate about their beliefs in drug treatment. Yet the two couldn’t be further apart in approach. In that environment, what works best? If there were a comprehensive compromise made between such individuals, would the AOD sector be better for it? Or does the very existence of such opposing viewpoints provide the energy that creates breakthroughs? Has anyone met both men and willing to share a view?