Agenda item

To receive and discuss the progress made by the Combating Drugs and Alcohol Partnership in achieving the outcomes of the Government's 10-year drug Strategy and endorse the proposed 2024/25 plan in making further progress in addressing the harms caused by drugs and alcohol in Lancashire.

Lee Harrington, Public Health and Wellbeing, Lancashire County Council, provided a report which set out progress to date and gave an outline of plans for 2024/25.  The additional programmes proposed to be funded during 2024/25 were summarised in the report.  (A description of the following providers and their main areas of work can be found in Appendix 'A').

The Board noted that the Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Partnership, as a sub-group of the Health and Wellbeing Board, has been in existence for eighteen months and in that time has developed and sustained some positive changes for the people of Lancashire. 

The national 10-year Strategy 'From Harm to Hope' 2021 requires each upper tier authority to develop and sustain a Combatting Drugs Partnership with membership made up of key public and voluntary services in the county including, NHS, social care, public health, housing authorities, the Police and Crime Commissioner, prisons, and probation.  Partnerships must link with other strategic boards such as the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, reducing reoffending boards, and community safety partnerships.  Lancashire chose to broaden the Partnership's remit to include alcohol along with illicit drugs due to the wide-ranging harms associated with it.

The Board were informed that additional resources have been given, through the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant, focussed on achieving:

·  Reduced likelihood of drug and alcohol related deaths

·  A reduction in drug and alcohol related reoffending amongst prolific offenders within local areas

·  Increase in the numbers of drug and alcohol users, especially offenders, engaging in treatment as well as increases in those achieving and sustaining recovery

·  Reduced costs for local health services and police forces due to lower health and crime harms, and lower costs to the criminal justice system (as fewer people are dealt with by the courts)

The strategy sets out several national targets and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) have set local (Lancashire) targets based on the national delivery expectations.

The programme is coming to the end of year two of the additional funding and in year three there is a significant increase in funding.

It was noted that for the next 12 months the focus will be on prevention, to address any gaps in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.  Other objectives in terms of treatment are to reduce the caseload size and provide enhanced support.

The Board were informed that the vast majority of people who attend the Young People's Service, do not transfer for adult treatment, which is an indicator of success.

The Board welcomed Katie Egan, (Inspire/Change Grow Live (adult service)) and Ray Jones, (We Are With You (young people's service)), who shared outcomes and case studies of how lived experience is influencing the delivery of services in Lancashire.

Inspire/Change Grow Live is working with Primary and Secondary Care, resulting in:

·  30% reduction in hospital presentations

·  35% reduction in GP presentations

·  15% increase in women accessing support

We Are With You shared a case study of a 14 year old male, socialising within a gang that brought them to the attention of the criminal exploitation team.  Substance use (cannabis, alcohol and nitrous oxide) was identified as an issue, and a referral was made to We Are With You by the school’s designated safeguarding lead.

The We Are With You worker saw the client within the school setting, and they also liaised with the Targeted Youth Support service that provides a youth club in in the area.  The worker was able to deliver group harm reduction education in the Youth Zone. The worker was able to help the young person recognise that their use of substances was linked with their self-esteem and how under the influence they are a high risk to themselves and others. The young person has now reduced use of substances and is working towards abstinence.

The Board were also informed that circa 75% of Lancashire's young people are referred to the service due to cannabis use, with circa 20% due to alcohol use. 

We Are With You have received funding from the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant to provide more early intervention and outreach support in Lancashire, working with colleagues in different services such as Child and Family Wellbeing Service and the Police through outreach on the streets and hotspot areas.

Following the presentation, the discussion highlighted:

·  Support is also provided to parents so they can understand the issues from the young person's perspective.  There is also a Parent Group which is useful in terms of peer support. 

·  Work is ongoing to raise awareness of the issues associated with vaping.

·  Inspire / Change Grow Live have high social media presence as well as Live Chat to offer support.

·  Inspire / Change Grow Live receive funding to support people into education and training.  An example of someone who had successfully move from street homeless, through in patient detoxification into employment was highlighted.

·  Early intervention and successful multi-agency working are key.

The presenters were thanked for their attendance and invaluable work carried out.

Resolved:  That the Health and Wellbeing Board:

(i)  Received and discussed the progress made by the Combating Drugs and Alcohol   Partnership in achieving the outcomes of the Government's 10-year drug Strategy.

(ii)  Endorsed the proposed 2024/25 plan in making further progress in addressing the harms caused by drugs and alcohol in Lancashire.