Most deprived areas to improve drug treatment

The government has announced that 50 local authorities in some of the most deprived areas in England will receive enhanced funding over the next three years to rebuild drug treatment services.

Communities most affected by drug related crime and addiction will receive over £300 million of additional funding over the next three years to strengthen treatment and recovery services.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said that the first 50 local authorities will use the funding to help reverse the upward trend in drug use by improving access to drug and alcohol addiction treatment and increasing the capacity of services.

The government’s new 10-year Drug Strategy set out an aim to prevent nearly 1,000 drug-related deaths, deliver 54,500 new high-quality treatment places and prevent a quarter of a million crimes.

Javid said: “This is a significant step in our commitment to rebuild the drug treatment system, save lives and level up the country. We’re investing a record amount in treatment services and ensuring some of the most deprived areas in England are first in line for this funding, to support the most vulnerable by cutting drug use. Treatment is just one element of our far-reaching strategy to better rehabilitate drug users – whether it’s helping people get jobs, creating a stable home or cracking down on supply.”

The government has also set out plans for more intensive oversight by the criminal justice system through enhancing Project ADDER. Launched in November 2020, Project ADDER is already delivering a whole system approach to tackle drug misuse in 13 of the hardest hit local authorities in England and Wales – joining up enforcement, treatment and recovery. The programme has already shown signs of success, contributing to 600 organised crime disruptions,10,500 arrests and 13,400 drug treatment interventions carried out by outreach workers.