Buckinghamshire council unveil new drug and alcohol strategy
It's set to run until 2028
Buckinghamshire Council has released their Drugs and Alcohol Strategy for 2023-28 "highlighting the growing concern of alcohol misuse and drug use in society".
They say it's motivated by the fact a majority of adults drink alcohol at lower risk levels, but those who already drink heavily are consuming more. "This, along with drug misuse, can have devastating consequences not only for the individual, but also for those around them".
The strategy aims to prevent drug and alcohol misuse, act early, and focus on the positives of resilience and recovery.
The council hopes that this strategy will empower and support residents and communities to take an active role in preventing and reducing the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol in Buckinghamshire.
They have identified four key priority areas to deliver the plan:
PREVENTION
Buckinghamshire Council is focusing on prevention as the key to reducing illicit drug use and harmful alcohol consumption.
The council plans to strengthen the factors that protect against substance misuse and make it less likely for people to make unhealthy choices.
They've promised to provide schools with resources to develop knowledge and skills for informed decision-making and target additional prevention work to communities at greater risk.
The council also plans to commission enhanced services for high-risk drinkers and increase the prevention of illegal sales through more test purchasing and enforcement.
The council also aims to reduce accessibility and deliver health messages to drive behavior change.
The next part of the strategy highlights that people with drug and alcohol dependence often face challenging circumstances...
... such as housing problems, financial insecurity, employment issues, and changes in personal relationships. It also recognizes that these issues may be more prevalent in some communities, such as military veterans. The strategy aims to strengthen personal relationships and support recovery as a personal journey towards freedom from dependence with improved well-being and increased personal and social responsibility.
To achieve these goals, the strategy proposes several actions such as promoting the use of Family and Carers Service to support those impacted by someone's drug or alcohol misuse, increasing support for children at risk of offending and exploitation, and supporting school leaders to recognize signs of county lines and child criminal exploitation. The strategy also aims to improve early identification and support for people at risk of exploitation who are in contact with the police and to increase the number of sentenced people housed on release from prison.
The strategy also aims to prevent and reduce rough sleeping through enhanced outreach and specialist support, develop processes to record whether patients are military veterans, and embed a culture of joint working between the adult drugs and alcohol service provider and the community mental health service provider. Finally, the strategy aims to strengthen mental health support for vulnerable people being released from prison and increase the number accessing tier four (inpatient and residential) drugs and alcohol treatment towards the national target by identifying needs and preparing appropriate clients earlier.
Reducing harms and promoting safety
The strategy also states how several agencies in Buckinghamshire are taking action to reduce drug-related harms, including evaluating the Blue Light project, establishing a Local Drug Information System, increasing hepatitis C screening and vaccination, and introducing consistent drugs and alcohol intervention services in custody suites. Thames Valley Police will enhance the identification of people responsible for a disproportionate amount of neighborhood crime and use out of court disposals to divert people into drug treatment services as an alternative to custody.