Scottish Drugs Forum
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1 July 2004
Non-custodial, community-based disposals tackling underlying causes of offending behaviour - including problem drug-use - are key to reducing re-offending in Scotland, according to Scottish Drugs Forum.
In its submission to the Scottish Executive's consultation, Reduce, Rehabilitate, Reform, SDF says that co-ordinated community based treatment and rehabilitation services are the way forward to tackling the issue.
"All the recent evidence from this country and abroad points to community based drug treatment services as the most effective method (and least expensive) of reducing drug related crime.
"Breaking the cycle of drug dependence, crime and imprisonment would clearly go a long way towards substantially reducing the prison population. Similarly positive responses to addressing drug dependence are proven to reduce crime and re-offending rates.
"Fundamentally, drug problems and related crime need to be viewed from a social perspective as they remain rooted in our most deprived communities. Addressing the social problems of these communities must therefore, we consider, be a fundamental part of the overall response to tackling drugs and crime.
"Specific criminal justice measures aimed at responding to problematic drug use are likely to succeed only if they are part of a package of measures that include prescribing services, needle exchange, counselling and support, education and training opportunities and supported accommodation.
"In further developing alternatives to custody SDF would strongly argue that such provision must be "rehabilitative" in nature addressing longer terms goals of giving purpose to peoples lives beyond drug use. That requires socially based programmes and in particular education and training programmes aimed at increasing employability.
"We would, however, take issue with the presumption that such programmes must be provided through the criminal justice system. SDF considers that there is enough evidence that effective integrated treatment, care and rehabilitation programmes can deliver positive change in individuals and reduce offending behaviour thereby reducing crime and these need not necessarily be attached to the criminal justice system.
"The key here is to ensure that we deliver what works both for the individual and society and to convince the Scottish public that effectiveness in reducing crime is the major priority. A strong lead from Scottish Executive Ministers to that effect would be very much welcomed."
The SDF submission also states that the criminal justice response needs to be much more integrated to be fully effective so that not only does Scottish Prison Service work in tandem with social work services but NHS, education and voluntary sector become full partners and not simply "add ons".
The 90-day consultation period ended in June. A summary of responses will be published later in the year.
The Executive says that the outcome will inform Ministers thinking on actions that require to be taken to improve criminal justice services in Scotland to provide "safer, stronger communities."
9 December 2003
LONG-term funding for drug services, a minimum level of service provision throughout Scotland, high visibility government support for the work of frontline workers and a wide-ranging review of the framework and functionality of Drug and Alcohol Teams are the key themes in the Scottish Drugs Forum’s submission to the Scottish Executive Review of Treatment and Rehabilitation Services.
SDF’s 28-page response contains 23 recommendations and follows extensive consultation with around 100 members at events held in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh and with service users in the City of Glasgow, Tayside, Fife and Lanarkshire.
In its 7600-word submission, SDF says there is a desperately urgent need for more services, which are wider in range, more person-centred, better coordinated and of a higher quality.
Among the submission’s key observations are:
• Current short-term funding mechanisms hinder proper planning and delivery of services and imply a lack of commitment at government level
• The range and quality of services throughout Scotland needs to be improved, particularly in outreach, family support, services for Hepatitis C positive injectors and employability work
• The Scottish Executive needs to take a visible lead role in improving the morale of frontline workers through robust defence and support of those working in socially and politically sensitive areas
• Several weaknesses exist in the DAAT model which impinge on their ability to ensure the most
effective, efficient and transparent delivery of services
• DAATs need to be more accountable and improve communications with the wider community including users and carers
• The introduction of merged/single stream funding with “signoff” control for DAAT chairs would improve their effectiveness, transparency and accountability
• DAATS should be given fewer key targets to allow them to focus resources more effectively
• £10 million per year could ensure the creation of at least 5000 much-needed employability places to help recovering users out of problem drug use
• Skills shortages are affecting the quality of frontline services – a range of workforce issues,
including staff morale, require urgent attention
• The credibility and effectiveness of substitute prescribing schemes is being affected by too many local
variations – programmes must be more person-centred, holistic and delivered more flexibly
• Research is needed on how to improve transitional care for prisoners returning to the community.
“Progress in tackling Scotland’s drug problem can be achieved over the long-term providing there is
sufficient will – and resources – to make it happen,” says the document.
“Early intervention and treatment, backed by a full range of quality services, will almost always stand a much higher chance of success than attempting to tackle long-standing problem drug use, when the mental, physical, social and economic hurdles are far harder to overcome.
“Positive change can be delivered through sharpening the focus of DAATs and enabling, challenging and encouraging services to provide a better service to those in need.”
Other key recommendations include:
• the provision of funding for family support posts within specialist drugs agencies
• each Health Board in Scotland should have a strategy focusing specifically on Hepatitis C treatment issues for problem drug users
• an increase in needle and syringe exchange services across Scotland
• the provision of extra funding to cover costs arising from the recent legalisation of certain drug paraphernalia
• the development of critical incidents training for users, carers and community groups across
Scotland
• an increase in services to the under 16s
• the number of short-stay crisis centres should be increased from two to at least five
• the creation of a service audit process which is not linked to funding, includes service users and
gives agencies “ownership” of the process.
However, in its submission, SDF also calls for “substantial” investment in legitimate economic activity within Scotland’s most deprived communities to counter and undermine the illicit drugs economy.
“Problem drug use arises out of the despair and misery engulfing people ill-equipped to escape
from the trap of low incomes, low aspirations and even lower self-esteem.
“Poverty and deprivation in all forms – financially, culturally, socially, emotionally and especially combinations of these – are at the root of the overwhelming majority of cases of problem drug use in Scotland.
“We note with concern the prevailing rhetoric on anti-social behaviour because we fear that this
may presage a re-focusing of political will and much-needed resources away from services aimed at tackling the underlying causes of social disengagement.
“We hope that those shaping strategic direction will concentrate instead on investing the support
and resources required to equip communities in the regeneration process.”
Meanwhile, service users have urged action in several main areas including waiting times, assessment, accessibility and flexibility of services, aftercare, the balance of treatments and family support.
Among the issues which service users want addressed are:
• faster referrals to services and outreach work to help keep up motivation while waiting
• an end to duplication in the assessment process, shorter assessment times and open access to assessment information across agencies
• direct access to services, involvement in discussing treatment options and more responsiveness to stigma issues for users accessing services
• more flexible opening hours
• suitable services for non-opiate service users
• person-centred, not timelimited, aftercare
• education and employment opportunities
• more crisis intervention, more abstinence-based treatment and more variety of treatment
• realistic information to families about rehabilitation and options for their involvement in the process
SdF's 28-page response to the National Review of Treatment and Care (Opens in new browser window) contains 23 recommendations and was compiled following a series of consultations with SDF members in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, during November.
The Service Users' submission (Opens in new browser window) was compiled following consultation with existing User Groups and service users in the City of Glasgow, Tayside, Lanarkshire and Fife.
18 February 2003
Scottish Drugs Forum is calling on the Home Office to amend the law to allow filters to be made available to injecting drug users.
The organisation was among those consulted about a proposal, recommended by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to make lawful the supply of specific items of drugs paraphernalia including sterile water ampoules, spoons and citric acid to drug users.
While fully supporting the move as a first step in developing a more coherent response to injecting drug use, SDF states that the omission of filters from the proposal is a serious one.
Download the SdF response (Opens in new browser window)
24 September 2002
Scottish Drugs Forum has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Justice 1 Committee in connection with its alternatives to custody inquiry.
The Committee wishes to investigate the use and effectiveness of community sentencing as an alternative to imprisonment.
It is seeking to address specific questions relating to what currently exists; level of service provision, effectiveness; and allocation of community penalties.
Download SdF's response in MS Word format (Opens in new browser window)