Collective Voice responds to latest stats on alcohol and drug treatment

On Thursday, the government published the latest statistics on the number of people engaged in treatment for issues related to use of alcohol or other drugs.

The overall number of people in treatment (310,863) increased by 7% since last year, which is the largest rise since 2008-09, and represents the highest number of adults in treatment since 2009-10.

This represents a considerable return on the Government’s recent investment in substance use treatment, and reflects the effective work of charities, which account for 80% of the sector.

Dr Will Haydock, Executive Director of Collective Voice, the national alliance of voluntary sector drug and alcohol treatment and recovery providers, said:

“These figures show real progress and demonstrate that charities can deliver swift, effective return on investment.

“After a decade of disinvestment, more people are now being supported than we have seen since 2010.  This is an impressive turnaround after just a couple of years of targeted investment.

“This isn’t just good news for the people we’re directly supporting, but also their families, friends and communities, as we know substance use can have a destructive impact on people’s health, their wider lives, and the people around them.

“We know that a range of crimes are linked to use of alcohol or other drugs, and the health issues linked to substance use place considerable pressure on health and social care services.  But we also know treatment works in reducing crime and improving people’s health, so if we get this right we can help people live longer, more productive and fulfilling lives.

“We know there’s more to do.  There are still people who need support and aren’t currently accessing it.  Dame Carol Black’s independent review of drugs specifically highlighted issues with access to support for women and those from minoritised ethnic groups – and we are working hard to improve access for everyone and make sure they have the right support option available at the right time.

“This means having the full range of evidence-based options available, including prevention and early intervention, harm reduction, residential treatment, a range of prescribed medication options, and recovery support.

“This is particularly important at a time when we are seeing continued rises in drug-related deaths and the increasing emergence of synthetic drugs at a concerning scale in the UK.

“We look forward to working with the Government on how we can continue to make progress on this vital area of work, which can help the Government deliver on its Missions and key ambitions.”