Published: 25 May 2007
Harm Reduction Action Plan
Around £2-million is to be spent to help reduce the number of people dying from drug overdoses or contracting blood-borne viruses through injecting themselves with dirty needles.
The government claims that a new drug Harm Reduction Action Plan, published this week, will result in more effective treatment being provided to drug misusers and will provide more support for rehabilitation & abstinence.
In the first three years of this decade, the government claims that there were significant successes in reducing the numbers of drug related deaths and preventing cases of blood-borne virus infections amongst drug misusers.
However, recent data suggests that this downward trend has stopped. In 2005, 1,506 drug users died in England from drug abuse. 44% current injecting drug users have contracted hepatitis C.
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said;
"Tackling drug misuse is a Government priority. Massive strides have already been made in tackling the harm that drugs cause to both individuals and society as a whole.
We have increased the numbers of people entering drug treatment, the number being retained in treatment and reduced the level of crime associated with drug misuse.
Recently, we announced £54.3 million of funding to expand in-patient detoxification and residential rehabilitation sectors.
Still too many young lives are being wasted and young talent squandered because of drug abuse.
The harms, diseases and sometimes death caused by drug abuse are still a tragedy for those affected, their families and friends, and the Government is determined to reduce them."
The Action Plan will hopefully help to limit the number of people dying from drug overdoses and the number of injecting drug users contracting blood-borne viruses, through a wide range of actions, such as:
· improving the quality of data on drug overdose-related deaths and blood-borne virus infections, which will help local commissioners prioritise harm reduction activity
· exploring mechanisms for routine collection of needle exchange data
· action plans to improve harm reduction in the poorest 10 per cent of areas identified through the NTA/Healthcare Commission Improvement Review in 2007
· new training & guidance to service users and carers on how to minimise harm associated with drug use
· a health promotion campaign, including hepatitis B vaccination, targeted at those most at risk
· regional road shows that focus on local implementation and highlight key messages to local stakeholders
National Treatment Agency Director of Quality, Annette Dale-Perera said:
"The harm reduction action plan has been developed by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) and Department of Health working with a group of drug experts including clinicians, researchers, drug users and commissioners.
The NTA is confident that with a concerted effort, we can successfully combat the rising rates of hepatitis, HIV and overdose amongst drug users.
Working in partnership will be the key to success and this must include working in partnership with those drug users most at risk to help them change their behaviour."
The Department of Health is investing £1.5 million in 07/08 into implementing the Drug Harm Reduction Action Plan while the National Treatment Agency is investing £390,000.
Further information
Drug Harm Reduction: An Action Plan
National Treatment Agency
Treatment outcomes monitoring
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