Local authorities across England will receive funding to combat drug and alcohol misuse, with areas of highest need to be prioritised, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.
An extra £421 million of government funding has been allocated through to 2025 to improve drug and alcohol addiction treatment and recovery. The extra funding means that total local authority funding for treatment will have increased 40% between 2020 to 2021 and 2024 to 2025. It will enable the creation of over 50,000 high-quality places in drug and alcohol treatment.
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‘Drug misuse has a massive cost to society - more than 3,000 people died as a result of drug misuse in 2021,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay.
‘This investment in treatment and recovery services is crucial to provide people with high-quality support, with services such as expanding access to life-saving overdose medicines and outreach to young people at risk of drug misuse already helping to reduce harm and improve recovery.’
This funding is prioritised for areas with the highest need, based on the rate of drug deaths, deprivation, opiate and crack cocaine prevalence and crime, taking into account of the size of the treatment population.
Treatment will be available for a wide range of substances, including powder cocaine, ecstasy, prescription drugs and cannabis - the latter remaining the most common substance (87%) for which young people receive treatment.
‘Addictions drive about half of all theft, burglary and robbery, so boosting treatment for addicts will help cut crime,’ said Health Minister Neil O’Brien.
‘This funding will help improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol recovery services right across the country, helping more people access the support they need, saving lives and benefiting communities.’