Drugs

Wednesday 3rd November 2010, One Wimpole Street - Central London, 08:30 - 14:00 (half day)

Reducing Substance Misuse Through Effective Prevention, Rehabilitation and Enforcement

Overview

Drug misuse causes serious problems; it wastes lives, destroys families and damages communities. Furthermore it costs taxpayers money – The Class A drug problem alone, generates an estimated £15.4 billion in crime and health costs each year, of which 99% is accounted for by problem drug users. In addition to this, between a third and half of acquisitive crime is estimated to be drug related. The drug trade is linked to serious organised crime, including prostitution, and the trafficking of people and firearms. Drugs remain a serious and complex problem that we – along with all modern societies – must face.

In order to reduce the serious effects of drug use there must be robust enforcement which tackles the supply of drugs and the crime and anti-social behaviour attributed to them. There must also be effective prevention to prevent harm to children, young people and families affected by drug misuse. Also vitally important, is the delivery of new approaches to drug treatment, rehabilitation and social-reintegration and ensuring that there are effective public information campaigns, communications and community engagement to raise awareness.

It is important that the young people of today do not become the drug misusers of tomorrow. Despite serious drug use among young people stabilising over the last few years, a real downward shift has yet to be achieved. To ensure there is a real reduction, it is vital that young people’s services are fully committed to identifying drug misuse in young people and providing early interventions before the problem becomes acute.

In The Coalition: our programme for government, the government set out its plans to reduce substance misuse and its associated problems, they include:

Introducing temporary bans on new legal highs while health issues are considered by independent experts
Considering all evidence from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on a substance’s harm, before making a decision on a permanent ban
Investigating a new approach to helping families with multiple problems
Exploring alternative forms of secure, treatment-based accommodation for drug offenders and the mentally ill

Taking a more integrated approach to tackling substance misuse, one which involves all key agencies and organisations, will ensure that programmes are delivered that both protect the public and save money.

Agenda

This forum will provide delegates with an excellent opportunity to discuss and debate current and future developments in the fight against substance misuse. Delegates will hear from the leading people, from leading organisations involved in tackling substance misuse and the problems associated with it.

08:50	Coffee and Registration
09:20	Chairs Welcome and Address Sharon Hunter, Fellow, Office for Public Management (CONFIRMED)
09:30	The Importance of Robust and Effective Drug Policy The role of the ACMD Developing awareness of harmful substances The ACMD's priorities 'legal highs' The ACMD's other recent reports (e.g. Hepatitis C) Professor Les Iverson, Interim Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (CONFIRMED)
09:50	Questions and Answers Session
09:55	Tower Hamlets DAAT Team: Putting Equality and Diversity at the Heart of Reducing Substance Misuse Achieving level 5 of the national equalities standard Has previous Beacon status for promoting racial equality Creating the first women-only service in the UK which offers structured treatment and also a pathway into residential care Current projects and services: Safe Exit – Supporting women working in prostitution Muslim Ex-Offenders service – Linking ex-offenders to services in Tower Hamlets to support reintegration back into their communities and families Working with Mosques to raise awareness of substance misuse and promote acceptance of ex-offenders Link Worker Scheme – Helping engage better with the local community Case studies and points of reference Progress and next steps Gill Burns, Joint Commissioning Manager, Tower Hamlets Council (CONFIRMED)
10:15	Questions and Answers Session
10:25	Coffee and Networking
10:55	Reducing Substance Misuse in Prisons The National Offender Management Drug strategy 2008-2011: One year left, where do things stand? Halting the supply of drugs in prison – Best approaches What is the future of funding for Class A substitutes? - Methadone Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS) and CARAT funding allocation - £44.5 million for 2010/2011 Improving the quantity, quality and consistency of clinical drug treatment in prisons Developing closer working arrangements between prison healthcare, CARAT and Drug Intervention Programmes to improve continuity of treatment form entry into prison to release Working with the NTA and DH to provide effective guidance and support Senior Representative, Interventions and Substance Misuse Group, National Offender Management Service (CONFIRMED)
11:15	Effective Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reintegration The role of the NTA in delivering successful treatment outcomes for drug users The new Substance Misuse Skills Consortium: Harnessing the ideas and talent within the drug treatment field to maximise the ability of the workforce and to help more drug misusers to recover Progress of the Drug System Change pilots Ensuring treatment is tailored to meet the individual’s needs The benefits of drug treatment: Cuts crime and helps communities Delivers VFM for taxpayers Helps reintegration of users into society Helps families and friends The future of treatment in a tough financial landscape Rosanna O’Connor, Director, Delivery, National Treatment Agency (CONFIRMED)
11:35	Questions and Answers Session
11:50	Reducing Substance Misuse Through Effective Support and Interventions The need for creative and innovative ways of supporting and reintegrating drug users Ensuring easy access to drug treatment programmes Overcoming the social barriers – Housing, employment, education The need for a coordinated response across government to tackle the problems of drug use and drug harms Ensuring future policy includes effective drug education and treatment and effective legislation and enforcement responses Roger Howard, Chief Executive,UK Drug Policy Commission (CONFIRMED)
12:10	How Can Family Members be More Effectively Involved in Treatment and Recovery of Drug Users? Improving the level and quality of direct support to help families deal with substance misuse Challenging the stigma attached to drug dependency Providing drug treatment systems that support and include families The need for local and national champions to enhance the support that is needed for families of drug users Developing and utilising data to ensure there is adequate and appropriate service provision Alex Copello, Professor, Addiction Research, University of Birmingham and Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Head of Addiction Services, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust (CONFIRMED)
12:30	Questions and Answers Session & Chairs Summary
12:50	Lunch and Networking
13:50	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

The audience will be representative of the diversity of the issue and the stakeholders present will include, community safety teams, police & fire authorities, LSPs, housing organisations, CDRPs, drug and alcohol action teams, youth offending teams, town centre managers, transport authorities, social workers, neighbourhood wardens, victims support, children’s trusts, ALOs, education authorities, licensing teams, social inclusion officers, community cohesion officers, schools, local criminal justice boards, prison/probation service, PCTs, central government departments & bodies, unions, academia, the private, legal & voluntary sectors and all those involved in tackling substance misuse.