News In Focus
20 April 2009
Enhanced teams to fight against alcohol and drugs
Alcohol & Drug Partnerships (ADPs) are to be set up for every local council area in Scotland to tackle substance misuse, the Scottish Government announced today.
Replacing the current model of alcohol and drug action teams, criticised for not working closely enough with councils and health boards, they will be brought into the community planning process for each local authority area, with decision-making and accountability systems.
Framework
The partnerships are at the heart of a framework agreement between the Scottish Government, councils and the NHS, signed today by ministers and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
Each ADP will develop and implement a local alcohol and drugs strategy to reduce the numbers of people with substance misuse problems. The strategies are aimed at ensuring all relevant partners play their part, identifying local needs better and ensuring investment is focused on achieving agreed outcomes.
Damage
Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said: “The national drugs strategy and the alcohol framework provide a clear plan to tackle the damage that substance misuse has caused to too many of our people.
"The record investment in both drug and alcohol services must be better targeted to turn around those lives.”
A Drugs Strategy Delivery Commission, replacing the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse, will oversee the implementation of the national drugs strategy. With an independent chair and expert membership representing NHS boards, clinicians, local authorities, police, voluntary sector and other interests, it will operate at arms length from government, in contrast to the advisory committee.
Trust for recovery
Mr Ewing also announced plans for a Scottish Drugs Recovery Consortium – a charitable trust bringing together key partners from the voluntary, public and academic fields to promote and assist the greater focus on recovery – among services providers, workforce and the public.
“The Consortium can act as a beacon in promoting recovery across Scotland, bringing together and offering support, training and advice to communities, professionals and individuals seeking recovery,” he added.
Performance will be measured by single outcome agreements with emphasis on reducing substance misuse. NHS performance management will also be used, including a new target from April 2010 to reduce drug treatment waiting times. The Government is also examining the scope to extend the target to alcohol services.
Further details of the new Delivery Commission and Recovery Consortium will be announced in the coming months.