DrugScope Welcomes National Treatment Agency Announcment Of Increased Funding For Drug Treatment

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 09 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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DrugScope has welcomed the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse's announcement of an extra £11.8m government investment in drug treatment.

Around a quarter of the additional funds (£2.9m) will go to residential rehabilitation services to allow them to provide new beds and resource upgrades and refurbishment of their facilities. The remaining £8.9m will be allocated following a bidding process to support improvements in treatment services in residential, community and prison settings, including young people's services.

The NTA's funding announcement comes alongside the publication of the agency's new Residential drug treatment services: a summary of good practice report. The report details good practice examples identified among residential rehabilitation and detoxification services in a recent joint review by the NTA and Healthcare Commission.

Responding to today's NTA announcement, DrugScope chief executive Martin Barnes said:

"Today's announcement of additional investment in drug treatment is welcome news. A recent DrugScope/ICM poll found that three quarters of the public agreed that investment in drug treatment is a sensible use of government money, so long as it benefits individuals, families and communities.

"The £2.9m increased capital funding promised for residential rehab services will help bolster the quality of facilities and number of beds available in many services. However, there are still shortfalls in the revenue funding arrangements for residential services that need to be addressed.

"For rehab services, sufficient referrals are critical, yet, as today's NTA report reiterates, many local areas are not commissioning residential services in line with national guidance. Put simply, the potential benefits of improved rehab facilities and extra beds promised by today's funding announcement, will not be fully realised if too many continue to lie empty.

"Drug treatment is rarely an either/or option and people seeking to overcome drug dependency need to have access to a range of treatment options, including both substitute prescribing and residential rehab programmes. Patient choice lies at the heart of the new NHS Constitution and, as recommended in our recent Drug treatment at the crossroads report, this should be reflected in drug treatment provision."

Jerry Sutton, Chief Executive of Inwards House Projects - a provider of drug services in the north west of England and DrugScope member - said:

"Residential services are widely recognised as an effective means of dealing with problematic drug and alcohol use. Providers like Inward House Projects welcome public investment in capital developments, but struggle to find the revenue that is needed to support the development of new improved services. Lack of revenue support can threaten the viability of innovative services and prejudice the ability of independent providers to deliver the Government's drug strategy.

"Residential services should be available to any client according to assessed need. Unfortunately, this is not the case because of postcode lottery syndrome. Not all local authorities are prepared to fund placements; others impose what I consider to be arbitrary price ceilings which have the effect of forcing down the quality of service which can be provided by the independent sector. Under the 'Compact', voluntary sector organisations are entitled to expect full cost recovery when their services are purchased or commissioned by local government departments."

Source
DrugScope