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