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Treatment Services and Advice

  • Last modified date:
    14 July 2008
Accessing treatment services

The number of drug users receiving treatment has expanded from 85,000 in 1998 to 195,000 in 2006/07. This has been supported by significant drug treatment funding from Government. These figures mean the Government has exceeded its target by 30% to double the numbers in drug treatment by 2008.

Further improvements to the quality and effectiveness of drug treatment services will be delivered through the Government’s ten-year drug strategy (2008-2018).

The National Treatment Agency is a special health authority (created by the Government in 2001) with responsibility for the effective delivery of local drug treatment services.  Further information on types of treatment, access to treatment and treatment providers can be found on the National Treatment Agency website.

Local delivery

Local drug treatment services are delivered and managed by:

Drug Action Teams (DATs ) - DATs are local consortiums that bring together representatives of all the local agencies involved in tackling the misuse of drugs, including primary care trusts, local authorities, the police, probation services and the voluntary sector. There are 149 DATs in England covering all local authorities. DATs take strategic decisions on spending and the delivery of treatment to meet local needs.

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) - there are about 300 PCTs in England, each one covering a separate local area.  PCTs are a lead member of DATs and in relation to drug treatment have responsibility for ensuring there are enough services for people within their local area.  They are also responsible for the delivery of local drug treatment targets.

Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) – there are 10 SHAs with each responsible for an area of England.  SHAs make sure local drug treatment services are of a high quality and are performing well.  They also help ensure local drug treatment meets national priorities.

National Treatment Agency (NTA) – the NTA is a special health authority, created by the Government in 2001 to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug misuse in England. 

The NTA is funded by central government, with the majority of funding from the Department of Health.  The NTA is accountable to the Secretary of State for Health.   

The NTA sets basic national standards that all drug treatment services should meet. The NTA’s nine regional teams provide guidance and support to Drug Action Teams (see below) on how to spend drug treatment funding.  The regional teams also monitor the performance of Drug Action Teams to improve and expand treatment.

Types of treatment

The type of treatment needed to tackle drug misuse depends on the individual needs of each drug-user. There are different types of drug treatment services available including:

  • Informal advice and information, for example on giving-up drugs
  • Harm reduction services to prevent blood-borne diseases and drug-related death
  • Prescribing substitute drugs like methadone to reduce addictive cravings and enable drug users to stop taking illegal drugs
  • Counselling and psychological support – this is formal, structured support provided by trained professionals
  • Structured day programmes – these usually consist of a series of activities for a fixed period of time (for example 12 weeks) and often include group work, counselling, education and life skills, and creative activities.
  • Detox - this involves a stay as an inpatient. Most people receiving detox are given medication to help clear their bodies of drugs.
  • Rehab - residential rehabilitation (rehab) usually involves clients staying in a facility for weeks or months.  Rehabs normally have a mixture of group work, counselling and other practical and vocational activities.
  • Aftercare - this is support for when clients leave treatment to help them return to normal life. Examples include help with housing, education, employment, general health care and relapse prevention.

Further information on types of treatment is available from the National Treatment Agency. 

Drugs Advice and Services

FRANK
FRANK provides free and confidential information on drugs and details of services that provide counselling and treatment.

  

Helpfinder – Treatment database
Drugscope have developed a database of drug treatment services in England, Wales and Scotland. It is searchable by several different criteria, including service name, treatment offered and geographical region.

Residential directory
An online directory provided by the National Treatment Agency of residential rehabilitation services in England and Wales for drug and alcohol misusers.

Local DAT directories
Many drug action teams (DATs) have lots of useful information on their websites about local organisations that can provide help and advice on a whole range of issues. Use this link to find your nearest DAT.

Young people's directory
This directory has been set up by the National Treatment Agency to enable professionals and carers to search for services that offer help on substance misuse issues to young people under 18.

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