In April 2013, subject to the Health and Social Care Bill becoming law, local authorities will become responsible for commissioning drug treatment and recovery services.
An effective approach to tackling substance misuse will require partnership working across local authorities, health bodies and criminal justice agencies. The object is not only for individuals to overcome dependency, but to be in employment, have stable accommodation, look after their families, and cease committing crime.
The NHS National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse have published two support packs aimed at commissioners and strategic partners.
They are accompanied by a ‘Why Invest?’ presentation that shows how:
Investing in local drug treatment and recovery services benefits individuals, strengthens families and makes communities safer.
A key principle of these publications is to ensure that drug and alcohol commissioners work closely with all relevant partners to commission services based on outcomes
The four principles for commissioning a drug treatment system that promotes successful recovery journeys are:
- Recovery is initiated by maintaining and, where necessary, improving access to early and preventative interventions, and to treatment
- Treatment is recovery-orientated, effective, high-quality and protective
- Treatment delivers continued benefit and achieves appropriate recovery-orientated outcomes, including successful completions
- Treatment supports people to achieve sustained recovery
Links
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: support pack for commissioners (PDF). National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: support pack from strategic partners (PDF template). National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.
Why invest? How drug treatment and recovery services work for individuals, communities and society (PDF presentation). National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.
