The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)
is a National Health Service (NHS) special health authority, established to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of drug treatment in England. We aim to help people overcome their addiction and regain their lives.
What's new
Pool resources to expand specialist alcohol treatment
The NHS and local authorities should pool resources in order to expand specialist alcohol treatment because they will both benefit from the improved health and safety of their communities, according to Paul Hayes, NTA Chief Executive.
He told a Local Government Association conference on the government's Alcohol Strategy that local authorities should seek joint ownership with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to plan services in the new locally-owned public health system.
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Building recovery in communities
In April 2013 local authorities will become responsible for commissioning drug treatment and recovery services. An effective approach to tackling substance misuse will require partnership working across local authorities, health bodies and criminal justice agencies. The object is not only for individuals to overcome dependency, but to be in employment, have stable accommodation, look after their families, and cease committing crime.
This approach is endorsed in a joint letter to local authority chief executives, chief constables and prison governors from the Department of Health, Home Office and Ministry of Justice. It sets out five principles that underpin an integrated recovery system:
- Collaborative working between all partners to commission services based on outcomes
- Prompt access to appropriate interventions for drug-dependent people, including offenders
- High-quality treatment that prepares service-users for recovery while protecting communities
- Encouraging service users to successfully complete treatment without putting them at risk
- Links to support networks to sustain long-term recovery and reintegrate people back into society
In addition to our Why Invest? presentation on the benefits of investing in local treatment and recovery services, and the specialist help for commissioners available here, the NTA has now published a summary of responses to the Building recovery in communities consultation.