Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support people with (a) drug and (b) alcohol addictions.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
The Government published a 10-year drug strategy in December 2021 which sets out three core priorities: cutting off drug supply, creating a world class treatment and recovery system, and achieving a generational shift in demand for drugs. The strategy aims to reduce crime, drug related deaths, harm, and overall drug use and is backed by significant new investment. The Government has invested an additional £780 million in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, of which £532 million is dedicated to rebuilding local authority commissioned substance misuse treatment services in England. The drug strategy includes a specific target of getting 54,500 more people in drug and alcohol treatment between 2022/23 and 2024/25. Success is being measured against a system of local and national outcomes frameworks. More information on the strategy is available at the following link:
Delivery of the drugs strategy is a cross-government priority; the Joint Combatting Drugs Unit (JCDU) is a cross-Government team, based in the Home Office, that was set up to coordinate the drug strategy delivery across all relevant Government departments. The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the JCDU to work to achieve the aims of the drug strategy.
No specific targets have been set for the reduction of alcohol use in England; however, the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines recommends that adults consume no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. According to the 2021 Health Survey for England, around 80% of adults in England drink within these guidelines. Through the NHS Long Term Plan, the Government is investing £27 million to establish alcohol care teams in the 25% of acute hospitals in England with the greatest need. These specialist teams identify alcohol dependent patients admitted to hospital for any reason, start them on specialist treatment as inpatients, and facilitate them into community-based substance misuse treatment upon discharge.
Mentions:
1: Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle) Since I launched our recovery plan, more than 500 additional practices have opened their doors to NHS - Speech Link
2: Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle) In the dental recovery plan I set out a number of ways in which we will improve the delivery of dental - Speech Link
3: Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle) Lady to look carefully at our dental recovery plan. - Speech Link
4: Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle) Indeed, I could hear the cheers from the “Big Dipper” and the “Pepsi Max Big One” from my classroom. - Speech Link
5: Caroline Johnson (Con - Sleaford and North Hykeham) deadly nicotine addictions? - Speech Link
Mar. 13 2024
Source Page: Government delivers further expansion of health services to former armed forces personnelFound: the £2.52 million Veteran Mobility Fund, as part of its commitment to drive better veteran health and recovery
Mar. 13 2024
Source Page: Government delivers further expansion of health services to former armed forces personnelFound: the £2.52 million Veteran Mobility Fund, as part of its commitment to drive better veteran health and recovery
May. 14 2024
Source Page: 10-year strategic plan for the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery workforce (2024–2034)Found: 10-year strategic plan for the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery workforce (2024–2034)
Written Evidence Nov. 30 2023
Committee: Public Accounts CommitteeFound: RHD0020 - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs The NHS Addictions Provider Alliance Written Evidence
Sep. 02 2024
Source Page: Minister for Children and Young People and Elliot Jackson meetings: FOI releaseFound: For 5 years prior to that he led the Addictions Partnership for the City of Glasgow.
Apr. 09 2024
Source Page: Harmful gambling: identification, assessment and managementFound: member Direct Non-financial professional and personal On WHO Expert group for Behavio ural Addictions
Mentions:
1: Ross, Douglas (Con - Highlands and Islands) An inquiry led by a judge from outwith Scotland will get to the bottom of what happened. - Speech Link
2: Sarwar, Anas (Lab - Glasgow) exist”in Police Scotland.I return to the words of Margaret Caldwell:“Whatever a woman’s job, status, addictions - Speech Link
3: Cole-Hamilton, Alex (LD - Edinburgh Western) that her sister received in Edinburgh is not available in Glasgow, which means far longer waits and recovery - Speech Link
4: Yousaf, Humza (SNP - Glasgow Pollok) I am more than happy for the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care to write to Tess - Speech Link
Aug. 30 2024
Source Page: Drug Taskforce Funding - River Garden Ayr: FOI releaseFound: For over 20 years Marina Barnard worked in addictions research at the University of Glasgow.