Drink and Drugs News DDN 1805 | Page 11

treatment

Innovating for excellence

The Expert Faculty on Commissioning is an independent group open to commissioners of drug treatment services and others involved in OUD care.

PROGRESS IN THE TREATMENT OF OPIOID USE DISORDER( OUD) has been significant – with innovative developments helping to build a treatment service that has saved many lives – and commissioners in local authority public health departments have an important role in continuing service development for the future.

The Expert Faculty on Commissioning( DDN, February, page 10) aims to support commissioners by sharing experience and insights on best practice, with the overall goal of improving outcomes. It is an independent group open to commissioners of drug treatment services and others involved in OUD care, and now presents a congress focussing on commissioning to be held on 22 June at the University of Manchester.

This event, Excellence in Commissioning for OUD, will include plenary sessions with some of England’ s leading experts in OUD care and will be attended by commissioners and others working in this field.

The expert faculty operates on an independent basis, funding work on a project basis with resources from all types of organisation and business. All sources of funding are stated clearly in the context of each project, and those providing resources do not influence the thinking or work of the faculty. Camurus has provided funds for the set up and logistics of this event but has no influence on the set up or content of the meeting, which is independent.

This event is an opportunity to join more than 50 leading experts in OUD care, including commissioners from across the country.

Everyone interested in the future of innovation in OUD care and the evolving role of commissioning is strongly recommended to join this event. Registration is free for those working in the field.

For more information, or to register, visit www. expertfaculty. org / exco

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

ROSANNA O’ CONNOR( director of alcohol, drugs and tobacco, Public Health England)

PROF ROD THOMSON( director of public health, Shropshire)

MARK MOODY( chief executive, Change, Grow, Live)

MARK GILMAN( Discovering Health)

TERRY PEARSON( drugs and alcohol commissioning manager, Northamptonshire)

NIAMH CULLEN( drug and alcohol programme manager, Calderdale)

CHRIS LEE( public health specialist, substance misuse and tobacco, Lancashire)

PAUL MUSGRAVE( senior manager, public health, Cumbria County Council)

CLIVE HALLAM( substance misuse commissioning manager, Wandsworth and Richmond)

JAYNE RANDALL( drugs and alcohol strategic commissioner, Shropshire)

Déjà vu

While numbers of crack users may be on the increase, the basics of providing an effective service for them haven’ t changed, says Danny Hames

I READ THE SERIOUS

VIOLENCE STRATEGY recently produced by the Home Office( see news, page 4) with great interest. Leaving aside the debates in the media regarding police numbers and budgets, I was drawn to the growing concern regarding the increasing prevalence and purity of crack cocaine in UK markets, and its link to increasing levels of serious violence.

The report indicates that the East of England has seen an 18 per cent increase in the estimated number of users of opiates and / or crack cocaine, alongside a 21 per cent increase in the estimated number of crack cocaine users in the South East. Anecdotally, our operational colleagues in the East of England area are noticing a steady increase. As a practitioner in the noughties, both in London and Southampton, I saw the prevalence and damage caused by crack and it prompted me to reflect on what ensures a drug and alcohol treatment service meets the needs of these service users.

As NHS providers we have been at the forefront of operating services for those using crack cocaine and cocaine for many years, both in our drug and alcohol services but also alongside colleagues in mental and physical healthcare services and those in primary care. It seemed relevant at this point that we outline what NHSSMPA believes is good, solid practice when ensuring that we provide strong, effective and relevant services for crack cocaine users. Here are our five getthe-basics-right principles:

1. MAKE SURE YOUR SERVICE IS ACCESSIBLE. When a crack cocaine user presents, really take the oppor- tunity to engage and start building a relationship, as the window of opportunity will be small.

2. HAVE STRONG CASE MANAGEMENT which is clearly shared and communicated with service users and steadily transitions responsibility for the plan from practitioner to service user. Provide stability and direction amidst the chaos.

3. ENSURE THAT YOUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND PEER MENTORS ARE WELL TRAINED and supported to understand the impact of crack cocaine. This will help them to build a relationship with the service user.

4. ENSURE YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT IS ROBUST. It needs to be protective to all and also ensure that interventions can be provided effectively – quality psychosocial interventions in the right dose at the right time are vitally important. Close working with psychiatry and psychology is invaluable.

5. BUILD STRONG LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS to ensure there is a broad range of recovery interventions available to those affected – both service users and their families.

Danny Hames is chair of the NHS Substance Misuse Providers Alliance( NHSSMPA)

If you would like to know more about NHSSMPA visit www. nhs-substance-misuse-provider-alliance. org. uk or follow them on twitter @ NHS _ SMPA www. drinkanddrugsnews. com May 2018 | drinkanddrugsnews | 11