Press Releases

20/01/09

SAADAT WELCOMES NEW FUNDING FOR DRUGS

 The Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (SAADAT) welcomes the Scottish Government’s 13.5% enhancement in funding for Drug Treatment.   Dr Maggie Watts, SAADAT Chairperson, said, “On behalf of SAADAT members, I welcome this increase in funding for Drug Treatment to the NHS and its partners.  We know that more and more people are coming forward seeking help for their drug problems.  I am sure that this additional £3.3 million will be put to good use in supporting them and their families towards re-engaging with their communities and following the direction set by the National Drugs Strategy The Road to Recovery.” 

The Road to Recovery Strategy emphasises a comprehensive approach to working with drug users, helping them through the journey towards recovery by offering a range of treatment options and engaging with the drug user in many different settings. This includes, as well as treatment and rehabilitation, the wide range of generic services such as housing, education and employment that many recovering drug users also need. It is thought that this new approach will improve treatment outcomes and effectiveness.

There is a fresh focus on the partnership between central government and local agencies and how they record the effectiveness of their work. The shift towards focusing on outcomes, rather than targets, helps Action Teams to focus on areas of good practice, strengthening service delivery initiatives and therefore making a greater positive impact on problematic drug use.

 06/08/09

New report to aid Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in providing services for people with alcohol problems                                                                                                                                

A report published today, 6th August, outlines the extent to which services for people with alcohol problems in Scotland currently meet the level of need for treatment.

Figures released today indicate that approximately 1,172,200 people in Scotland are drinking at hazardous/harmful levels and approximately 206,000 people are alcohol dependent.  Overall alcohol problems affect more men than women.

In 2006/07 approximately 17,000 Scots accessed treatment for alcohol problems but, according to the research, this represents only 1 in 12 of people who could benefit from specialist help.

Compared with England, Scotland has a 48% higher level of access to specialist alcohol treatment.  However, none of the Scottish areas achieved even a ‘medium’ level of access to treatment as measured by North American standards. 

For various reasons, not everyone with an alcohol problem requires a treatment service.  Natural recovery is a term used to describe those people with alcohol dependence who recover without formal specialist or other interventions.  Natural recovery estimates have not been incorporated into this work because no specific estimates are available for Scotland. 

Dr. Maggie Watts, Chairperson of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams said “We are delighted to have the report’s conclusions available today. Our Association has long been concerned about the gap between need and service availability. Local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships will be able to use these findings to inform the development of services provided for people with alcohol problems and continue to work to reduce the harms associated with alcohol use. The additional investment made by the Scottish Government will support this.”

 Jack Law, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said:

“Alcohol Focus Scotland welcomes this report because it highlights concerns that we have been expressing for some time about the lack of support services for people with alcohol problems. It is worrying that only 1 in 12 Scots with alcohol problems currently access specialist treatment services. That means thousands of people whose drinking is affecting their lives, and the lives of their families, are not getting the help they need. We need to encourage  people to seek help in overcoming their drink problems at an early stage before their health is seriously damaged, as well as ensuring alcohol services have the capacity to provide effective, evidence-based treatment as quickly as possible.”

Dr. Charles Lind, Consultant Psychiatrist, Addiction Services NHS Ayrshire and Arran  said:

“This very welcome report gives an evidence base to a discussion that practitioners in the field have been having for some time, i.e. that not only is the availability of specialist alcohol service far outstripped by the need for such a service but that those who would benefit from such services are, presumably because of stigma, often unwilling to attempt to access them. The trick now is going to be to persuade the constituents of local alcohol and drug partnerships (specifically health boards and local authorities) to do two things. Firstly to take this information seriously and to begin to use the increased resources available to set up such specialist services imaginatively and in a way that reflects their local expressions of need. Secondly, to begin to find ways of encouraging those with alcohol problems to come forward and look for those services that might help them.”

 Click here to view full report

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