Researchers evaluated drug treatment programmes in England. Drug treatment was effective in reducing the harmful behaviours associated with problem drug use. Treatment needed to be sufficiently flexible to meet the differing needs of treatment seekers. Referrals through the criminal justice system had outcomes that were just as positive as those through other routes. Drug treatment was found to be cost-effective.
Source: Michael Donmall, Andrew Jones, Linda Davies and Matthew Barnard, Summary of Key Findings from the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS), Research Report 23, Home Office | Andrew Jones et al., The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Final Outcomes Report, Research Report 24, Home Office | Linda Davies, Andrew Jones, Georgios Vamvakas, Richard Dubourg and Michael Donmall, The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research study (DTORS): Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Research Report 25, Home Office | Matt Barnard, Stephen Webster and William O'Connor, The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Qualitative Study, Research Report 26, Home Office
Links: Report (23) | Report (24) | Report (25) | Report (26)
Date: 2009-Dec
A report by an all-party group of MPs put forward proposals designed to improve the level of care for people with alcohol misuse problems.
Source: Don Shenker, Nicolay Sorensen and Carys Davis, The Future of Alcohol Treatment Services, All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse c/o Lynda Waltho MP (0207 219 6208)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-May
An audit report said that drug and alcohol-related death rates in Scotland were among the highest in Europe, and had doubled in the previous 15 years. A co-ordinated effort was needed to ensure services met local needs and were delivered to consistent standards nationally.
Source: Drug and Alcohol Services in Scotland, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234) Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Mar
A report said that drug treatment services were effective, and should remain a priority for public investment.
Source: Drug Treatment at the Crossroads: What it's for, where it's at and how to make it even better, DrugScope (020 7928 1211)
Links: Report | DrugScope press release
Date: 2009-Mar
The healthcare inspectorate said that it had found 'widespread good practice' in local drug partnerships in England.
Source: Improving Services for Substance Misuse: Diversity, and inpatient and residential rehabilitation services, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200) and National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse
Links: Report | CHAI press release
Date: 2009-Jan
A report said that the numbers of young people in substance-misuse treatment in England rose in 2007-08 – reflecting increased access to drug-treatment services, rather than an increase in prevalence. 4 out of 5 of all the young people recorded receiving specialist help were being treated for problems with cannabis or alcohol.
Source: Getting to Grips with Substance Misuse Among Young People: The data for 2007/08, National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (020 7972 2214)
Links: Report | NTA press release | DrugScope press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jan