In what is instantly recognisable as a major policy shift, the strategy places drug-free recovery at the heart of the Government’s response, and puts more responsibility on individuals to seek help and overcome their dependency.
The new cross-Government approach unveiled by crime prevention minister James Brokenshire will also see a renewed focus on reducing demand and restricting supply through:
Misery for families and communities
“Drugs ruin lives and cause misery to families and communities across the country,” explained Brokenshire. “There are no quick fixes. What we want to achieve is a generational shift, to get people to take responsibility for their actions and free themselves from the vicious cycle of drug and alcohol dependency.”
As far as Brokenshire’s concerned, the message is clear. “Simply focusing on reducing the harms caused by illicit drug use is no longer enough. We must focus on recovery as the most effective route out of dependency.”
The minister said that the Government will also “tighten the net” on unscrupulous drug dealers, introduce temporary banning orders to allow the authorities to take immediate action against new legal highs, protect vulnerable young people by preventing them from falling into a cycle of dependency and “encourage record numbers” into treatment.
Power and accountability to tackle drugs and the harms they cause will be passed to local areas. With the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners, the reform of the NHS and the creation of Public Health England, local partnerships will be responsible for designing and commissioning services that directly meet the needs of their communities.
Route out of dependency
Public health minister Anne Milton said: “It’s vital we do all we can to prevent people using drugs in the first place. Those who do must have access to the services they need to help them to re-build their lives and contribute productively to society.”
As set out in a White Paper, the system will be locally owned and led by directors of public health and local Government. The authorities will work with individuals and their families to offer them a clear route out of the dependency cycle.
“We are keen to do more,” added Milton. “That’s why we will work with local areas to pilot a ‘payment by results’ scheme that incentivises recovery and drives success.”
The strategy (which you can read in full by accessing the web link provided on the right hand panel of this page) also sets out a new holistic approach to supporting people dependant on drugs or alcohol, not just through treatment but also by addressing offending, employment and housing issues – all of which are traditionally linked to drug or alcohol abuse.
Help for benefit claimants
Work and pensions minister Maria Miller commented: “This strategy will take an holistic approach to helping benefit claimants beat their drug and alcohol dependency so that they have every chance of competing in today’s labour market.”
Those who decide to go into treatment will be offered every support to help overcome their addiction, but those who refuse it will face the same benefit sanctions as every other jobseeker.
“Our welfare reforms will support this strategy by making sure that work always pays,” urged Miller.
The Government is promising to:
Restricting supply through tough enforcement
Working across Government to reduce demand through prevention, restricting supply through tough enforcement and supporting individuals into recover will, the Home Office feels, help the Government to achieve its goal of stronger, safer communities free from the harm of drugs.
To support the delivery of the new drugs strategy, the Home Office and the Department of Health will soon reveal the extent of funding to be made available across 2011-2012 for tackling drug misuse. This will include local partnership’s indicative budgets for the Drug Interventions Programme.
The recruitment of an additional 4,200 health visitors by 2015 will help ensure vulnerable families are supported to give their children the best possible start in life.
Homelessness is a contributory factor in drug dependency and, to this end, the Government will be providing GB pound 400 million up until 2014 to tackle and hopefully lessen this problem.
A copy of the drug strategy consultation, which was carried out between 20 August and 30 September this year, can be accessed online. Click the link provided on the right hand panel of this page
For further information on temporary banning powers visit the Home Office’s website (again, a dedicated link has been provided)
More information on recovery champions, payment by results or Public Health England can be accessed by contacting the Department of Health on (telephone) 020 7210 5221
