DrugScope Responds To NTA Figures On Drug Treatment

New figures published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) show that in 2008/09, a record number of people entered drug treatment in England. The NTA highlights a reduction in the number of 18-24 year olds presenting with heroin or crack cocaine addiction but an increase in the number of young people with cocaine powder problems.


Other key findings include:


- The vast majority of clients (97%) had to wait less than three weeks to access treatment services.


- In 2008/09 clients in treatment received 147,504 substitute prescribing interventions (e.g. methadone), 56,827 psychosocial interventions and 4,673 residential rehabilitation.


- Over a quarter (26%) of clients who reported accommodation status said that they had an 'urgent housing problem' or a 'housing problem'.


- The number of 18 to 24 year olds newly presenting to treatment for heroin and crack cocaine dropped 30 per cent from 12,320 in 2005/06 to 8,603 in 2008/09.


- The number of 18 to 24 year olds newly presenting to treatment for cocaine powder rose from 1,591 in 2005/06 to 2,998 in 2008/09.


- The number of over 35s newly presenting for treatment for heroin and crack increased by 20 per cent from 20,465 in 2005/06 to 24,414 in 2008/09.


Responding to today's figures, DrugScope chief executive Martin Barnes, said:


"Drug treatment changes lives and it is good news that record numbers of people are being supported to overcome their drug problems. Nevertheless today's figures highlight some important challenges for the treatment system.


"The figures confirm evidence of an 'ageing' heroin using population and it is encouraging that fewer young people are presenting for problems with heroin or crack cocaine. However, suggestions that we may have reached the 'high watermark' of heroin and crack problems in this country may be premature, not least at a time of recession when a growing number of young people are not in employment or training and overall unemployment is rising.


"The increase in cocaine related addiction and changing patterns of drug use among young people presents a challenge to the treatment system, which is primarily geared to treating heroin and crack cocaine users. The latest British Crime Survey showed a 25 per cent increase in one year in cocaine powder use among 16 to 24 year olds which suggests that we may see further increases in cocaine dependency among young people.


"Despite the encouraging downward trend in the number of under 25s seeking help for heroin or crack addiction there were still almost three times as many young adults in treatment for heroin or crack use than powder cocaine. It is vital that drug services are given the resources to meet emerging problems with drugs like cocaine, while ensuring that young people who enter treatment for heroin or crack use can still access the support they need.


"Overcoming addiction can be a long and complex process - there is no silver bullet for recovery. The provision of methadone prescribing and psychological treatments can help many drug users to build or rebuild their lives. However, many will benefit from residential rehab and detox services and there are still shortfalls in the local funding and accessibility of these treatments. Patient choice lies at the heart of the new NHS Constitution and drug treatment should not be any different.


"The fact that a substantial portion of people in treatment reported housing problems is a reminder that pathways out of addiction are about more than treating drug dependency. More attention needs to paid to the underlying factors contributing to problem drug use including access to housing, social support and routes to employment and training."


Avril Tully, Drugs Services Operations Director at Developing Initiatives for Support in the Community (DISC) - a charity that works across the North East, Yorkshire and Lancashire to combat deprivation and promote social inclusion and is a DrugScope member, said:


"We see firsthand the difference drug treatment makes to people's lives. To us treatment is not just about beating physical dependency - our vision is of recovery and social inclusion.


"We draw drug users into medical and therapeutic treatment for their addictions and then into the services they need to enable them to establish homes, stable relationships and jobs, and to work towards lasting and positive life changes and recovery.


"At grassroots level being in treatment enables people to move into their own flats for the first time, get back in touch with their families and fill in a job application. Creating a pathway from treatment to life change and transformation is crucial."


Source
DrugScope