Substance misuse is a complex problem that reaches all our communities in Wales. It has far-ranging and harmful implications for both individuals and families. The problem of substance misuse, as such, requires action on both a national and local level. The Welsh Assembly Government’s substance misuse strategy, Tackling Substance Misuse in Wales, promotes a partnership approach involving all the relevant agencies, with Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) at the helm. Not only are CSPs the best people with the right local knowledge, but it also allows for substance misuse discussions to be placed in the wider discussions and decisions around community safety. Each CSP in Wales, via their Substance Misuse Action Teams, develops and implements a local Substance Misuse Action Plan, which are integral components in the wider community safety agenda of Local Authorities. The current plans run from 2005-2008.
In 2005 the Welsh Assembly Government published The Substance Misuse Treatment Framework for Wales which aims to assist Community Safety Partnerships in coordinating the delivery of the Welsh substance misuse strategy and support Responsible Authorities and other partners in developing high quality needs based services.
The Welsh Assembly Government has also put in place a Performance Management Framework (PMF) which seeks to ensure that vigorous assessment and implementation of strategy occurs. There are three elements to this PMF Project – standardised data collection and reporting system via the Welsh National Database for Substance Misuse; Key Performance Indicators for substance misuse treatment in Wales; and an ongoing programme of research and evaluation.
Drug Interventions Programme
The Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) is a crime reduction initiative, aimed at providing a support structure to encourage offenders out of crime and into treatment. It aims to break the cycle of drug misuse, offending behaviour and custody by intervening at every stage of the criminal justice system to engage offenders in treatment and provide aftercare support.
The service is for people who live in Wales and are over 18 years of age who are:
- entering or about to leave the criminal justice system and are misusing drugs; or
- leaving drug treatment irrespective of whether they are currently involved in the criminal justice system.
The key referral routes include:
- arrest referral schemes
- probation service
- courts
- prison based services
- key partner agencies
- self referral via 24/7 national helpline.
The Home Office funds the initiative however the Welsh Assembly Government implements it in Wales. To support the regional delivery of the DIP, four Regional Management Boards run the programme in their local areas. They have developed Local Implementation Plans as the starting point from which to commission services delivered by Criminal Justice Intervention Teams (CJITs).
For more information contact: Rachel Morgan