Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Tuesday, February 27, 2007


News Release - More money to improve drug and alcohol services

Friday 23 February 2007 09:46
Department of Health (National)



SHAs allocated £54 million in capital funding

The Government today announced £54.3m in capital funding to improve in-patient and residential drug and alcohol facilities and access to those services. The money will be used to increase capacity and improve outcomes for patients.

This investment will mean more places for patients, improvement to buildings and improved access to services for all client groups. The successful bids include provision for women only facilities and for women with children, as well as families with children, individuals with disabilities, offenders and those at risk of offending, and individuals from black and minority ethnic communities.

Announcing the allocations, Public Health Minister, Caroline Flint said:

"The Government is committed to increasing the availability of in-patient treatment and residential rehabilitation for substance misusers. This money will provide additional beds and improvements to service quality for some substance misusers with some of the highest levels of need. Better services will bring about better outcomes.

"Today's announcement is a clear sign that drug treatment remains a key priority for Government funding. Only recently we announced a further increase to the Pooled Drug Treatment Budget.

"For every £1 spent on treatment, at least £9.50 is saved in crime and health costs. This funding will help to provide a life away from drugs for the user and a new future for families, friends and communities affected by the impact of drug addiction".

Notes to Editors

The £54.3m was allocated to SHAs for Tier 4 Drug and Alcohol Services based on the outcome of a bidding process. In-patient and residential rehabilitation are collectively referred to as Tier 4 services in line with 'Models of Care for treatment of adult drug misusers; Update 2006' NTA and 'Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers' (NTA, 2006).

The Government is committed to increasing the availability of in-patient treatment and residential rehabilitation for substance misusers as part of the Treatment Effectiveness Strategy launched in 2005.
National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) data for Tier 4 services will be published on the NDTMS website detailing placement activity by local partnerships and providers on 28 February. This will support the local partnerships performance managing their purchasing activity for Tier 4 services.

Overall responsibility for the delivery of the Government's Drugs Strategy rests with the Home Office. Drug treatment is the responsibility of the Department of Health.

The Public Service Agreement (PSA) target for numbers in drug treatment was met two years early.

We are also on track to meet the PSA target for increasing the numbers retained or successfully completing treatment year on year.

Average national waiting times for treatment have fallen almost three quarters since 2001 (from 9.1 weeks in December 2001, to 2.4 weeks in September 2005)

Public enquiries to 020 7210 4850.

[ENDS]

at