Ten years to transform drug treatment

Why the future looks hopeful for people tackling addiction
Written by Ray Jenkins

Why the future looks hopeful for people tackling addiction

Emerging Futures welcomes the Government’s aspiration to deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system in England, as set out in the new 10-year drugs plan. Of course, strategies need proper resources and the commitment to an additional £780 million over three years is also very welcome. From our perspective, clear recognition of the fundamental role of housing, families and employment pathways in achieving successful treatment outcomes is also really positive and shows the Government has taken on board the majority of recommendations outlined in Dame Carol Black’s phase 2 report published in July 2021.

Emerging Futures already delivers effective interventions based around the provision of safe, high-quality housing, support for families and concerned others and practical employment and training pathways for those who are expert by experience. These form the foundation of our approach to supporting people to overcome addictions and achieve improved health, wellbeing and social functioning.

We were pleased to see that the new drugs plan refers to the involvement of people with lived experience in delivering treatment and recovery services. Emerging Futures has always appreciated the vital knowledge and skills that people with direct personal experience of overcoming addiction bring to our work. We train people with lived experience to provide professional coaching support to others undertaking their own recovery journey. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the number of coaches who have now achieved full-time employment in the health and social care field.

Government’s Plan For Tackling Addiction

Crucially the Government’s new plan also recognises the need for joint working across a range of organisations to drive improvement. It seems so simple and obvious that we must address physical and mental health together to reduce harm and improve people’s capacity to engage in and benefit from treatment, yet so many services neglect this aspect of care. Having somewhere safe and nurturing to live is also fundamental to create the conditions for successful participation in treatment. This is true for all who are homeless and also vital for those leaving prison. No one can be expected to take on the immense challenge of tackling addiction without safety, structure and support in their lives, otherwise the temptation to slip back into old ways will be hard to resist for many. Working together with others across the sector will always be the most effective way to provide that holistic care.

In essence, the move from harm to hope is most likely to be achieved by genuinely putting individuals at the heart of the treatment system and building support and interventions that really speak to their needs. The new drugs plan has the potential to achieve these aims and we hope the next ten years of treatment services will prove to be an exciting time of change and transformation.

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