November 2023
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This conference discussed priorities for addressing drug use, developing the effectiveness of drug and alcohol addiction services in the UK, and improving treatment outcomes.
Delegates discussed strategy for utilising £421m of funding and investment announced for the development of local addiction services and improving access to housing support, as well as funding and research priorities for building the evidence base for addiction, which is one of the missions of the Life Sciences Vision.
The agenda brought out experience and best practice from local approaches, including reducing supply and crime, behaviour change, education, protecting vulnerable groups, partnerships and multi-agency working, recovery pathways, and offender health.
It was an opportunity to assess progress following the publication of the 10-year drugs plan, From Harm to Hope, in response to Professor Dame Carol Black’s independent review, as well as a range of policy initiatives aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour and improving services for alcohol treatment, and key considerations for delivering long-term ambitions around addressing drug use and improving addiction services going forward.
We also expected discussion on the Drugs and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Workforce Strategic Framework being developed by HEE.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy: progress on the government strategy so far - the extent to which it addresses key challenges - priorities moving forward - aligning with wider work on antisocial behaviour
- investment: utilising funding to develop effective addiction services across the country - support for services to prevent relapse - the future for public health funding to manage increased service demand
- routes to recovery: examining what effective addiction pathways look like - ways to deliver these in local areas to address local needs
- workforce: assessing the recruitment, upskilling and partnership working required to enable improvements to addiction services
- care: developing personalised care and partnerships to support recovery - mental health support, and housing and employment connections
- offenders: improving addiction pathways and health outcomes
- research: improving the evidence base for treating addiction - latest thinking and innovative methods for managing addiction as a clinical condition
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DHSC; DLUHC; DSIT; HMPPS; HMRC; Home Office; MOJ; NAO; OLS; and The Scottish Government, as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.
