Government announces £ 421m funding for next two years
L ocal authorities in England will receive £ 421m for drug and alcohol treatment services through to 2025 , the government has announced . More than 150 councils are being allocated funding , which includes £ 154.3m for 2023-24 and ‘ indicative funding ’ of £ 266.7m for 2024-25 .
The money will help to enhance the quality of treatment on offer , support more people leaving prison into treatment and allow the recruitment of more treatment staff , the government states , with more people benefitting from residential rehab and inpatient detox services .
The funding is part of the government ’ s commitment to ‘ significantly ’ increase treatment capacity as part of its 2021 drug strategy , it says , and follows the £ 94.5m made available for 2022-23 and the recent announcement of £ 53m to improve housing support ( see below ). Areas with the highest need have been prioritised , the government says , based on the size of their treatment populations , drug-related death rates , opiate and crack prevalence , and levels of crime and deprivation .
‘ This continued investment is very welcome and will be crucial in supporting local authorities and their partners to increase the capacity and quality of their services for people with drug and alcohol dependence , in line with the key recommendations of my Independent review of drugs ,’ said Professor Dame Carol Black . ‘ This will help realise the ambitions of the government ’ s ten-year drug strategy , to deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system , reduce drug use and drug-related crime , and save lives .’
‘ This investment in treatment and recovery services is crucial to
provide people with high-quality support , with services such expanding access to life-saving overdose medicines and outreach to young people at risk of drug misuse already helping to reduce harm and improve recovery ,’ added health and social care secretary Steve Barclay .
‘ This will help realise the ambitions of the government ’ s tenyear drug strategy , to deliver a worldclass treatment and recovery system .’
PROFESSOR DAME CAROL BLACK
‘ This funding will help us build a much-improved treatment and recovery service which will continue to save lives , improve the health and wellbeing of people across the country , and reduce pressure on the NHS by diverting people from addiction into recovery .’ businesscornwall . co . uk
Government pledges housing support cash
UP TO £ 53M IS TO BE ALLOCATED TO 28 LOCAL
AUTHORITIES across England to improve housing support for people in drug and alcohol treatment , the government has stated . The money will go to the areas with the greatest need , across all regions of England , says DHSC , and will allow local authorities to establish housing support schemes tailored to their local populations . The funding will also ‘ test the impact ’ of providing extra housing support to improve recovery , it adds .
The aim is to help people in treatment achieve sustainable , long-term recovery through maintaining independent living , DHSC states . ‘ Addressing the housingrelated needs of people in treatment with drug and alcohol dependence was a critical part of my Independent review of drugs ,’ said Dame Carol Black .
‘ I am pleased that government is working with 28 local authorities across England to test the effectiveness of housing support interventions over the next three years . Learning from these areas will inform and drive forward the ten-year drugs strategy , making the case for safe and supportive housing in recovery from addiction .’ See feature , page 8
New voice for collective
JESS MULLEN , previously director of influence and communications at Clinks , has been announced as the new chief executive of
Collective Voice . She replaces Oliver Standing , who is taking up the role of director of communications and external affairs at Humankind .
‘ Jess is well known by many across the sector as an impressive senior leader who has helped to shape national polices and impact the lives of many people through her influential work ,’ said Collective Voice chair Lea Milligan .
‘ I have no doubt her passion , gravitas and knowledge will lead to great steps forward in our next phase , building on the significant achievements made in recent years under Oliver ’ s leadership . During the cost-of-living crisis it is vital that Collective Voice continues to ensure that the services offered to those most in need are supported , enhanced and expanded .’
4 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • MARCH 2023 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM