National media release: 29 September 2006
The target set by government to increase the participation of problem drug users in structured treatment programmes by 100 per cent by 2008 has been achieved – two years early.
Figures published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) indicate the number of drug misusers in contact with drug treatment services in 2005/6 has more than doubled since 1998/9.
The results, collated by Manchester University from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) reveal that 181,390 people were in contact with specialist, structured drug treatment in England during 2005/6, an increase of 13 per cent on 2004/5 (160,450) and 113 per cent on the 1998/9 target baseline of 85,000.
The results also indicate more than 141,500 people (78 per cent of those in treatment in the year) had either successfully completed or continued treatment at the end of March 2006; this is 20,800 more people than in March 2005.
Around 102,700 people (57 per cent of those in treatment in the year) either came into structured drug treatment for the first time or re-entered services in 2005/6; a common factor of the chronic relapsing condition of problem substance misuse.
More than 62,000 (77 per cent) of new clients remained in structured treatment for 12 weeks or more - when treatment is more likely to be effective - following triage assessment in 2005/6.
“This is great news. Not only are more people receiving the treatment they need, but they are also staying the course which means their treatment is likely to be more effective in the long term,” says NTA chief executive, Paul Hayes. “Drug dependency is concentrated amongst the most vulnerable people living in England and most disadvantaged communities. Effective drug treatment delivers benefits to individuals, reduces the spread of blood borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis within the population at large, and improves the safety of communities by reducing drug related crime.”
The most frequently reported main drugs of misuse by adult clients:
- heroin 66 per cent (108,000)
- methadone or other opiates ten per cent (15,900)
- crack or cocaine 11 per cent (17,700)
- cannabis seven per cent (12,300).
The most frequently reported main drugs of misuse by clients aged under 18 years:
- cannabis 75 per cent (9,500)
- heroin or other opiates nine per cent (1,100)
- crack and cocaine five per cent (700).
For young people under the age of 18 data is also collected on alcohol as a primary problem substance. Data on alcohol is not collected for adults.
Supporting information is available on the NTA website at www.nta.nhs.uk including:
- Statistical release with key findings
- Local breakdowns of numbers in treatment
- Local breakdowns of retention rates for treatment (ie. percentage of discharged clients who had remained in treatment for 12 weeks or more).
Notes to editors
The National Treatment Agency (NTA) is a special health authority, established by Government in 2001. The Agency aims to increase the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for substance misuse in England.
Paul Hayes, NTA chief executive is available for interview.
The national target for drug treatment is to: “Increase the participation of problem drug users in drug treatment programmes by 55 per cent by 2004, and by 100 per cent by 2008, against a 1998 baseline, and increase year on year the proportion of users successfully sustaining or completing treatment programmes.” This has been achieved.
An estimated 85,000 people were in structured drug treatment in 1998.
Drug misuse is an illicit activity and therefore difficult to quantify. Many people use drugs at some stage of their lives, some of whom go on to develop problems which require treatment. The Home Office is currently developing more accurate systems for measuring the number of problematic drug misusers, but current estimates indicate that there are approximately 300,000 in England.
Central government revenue funding for drug treatment has increased from £142m in 2001/2 to £385m in 2006/7. Additional funding is also available to improve routes into treatment.
Structured drug treatment is defined as "treatment following assessment and delivered according to a care plan, with clear goals, which is regularly reviewed with the client."
Local targets are set by each drug action team (DAT), through its primary care trust and in agreement with the NTA and local strategic health authority. These are based on local needs and capacity planning. Details to DAT targets are available from individual DATs. DAT contacts are available at http://www.drugs.gov.uk/dat/directory.
Local drug action teams (DATs) are responsible for identifying local needs and using central government and locally resourced funding to commission or purchase drug treatment to meet those needs. There are 149 DATs in England (one for every local authority area). DATs are consortiums of local partners involved in the delivery of the Government's drugs strategy including health authorities, primary care trusts, police, probation, prison service and local authorities. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) is responsible for monitoring, advising and performance managing how DATs spend their funding on treatment.
For confidential advice contact the national drugs helpline, FRANK, tel 0800 77 66 00, www.talktofrank.com. You can also access directories of drug treatment services via the NTA website.
For further information contact NTA communications team:
Yvonne Lloyd, Senior Communications Officer. Tel 020 7261 8635.
Email: yvonne.lloyd@nta-nhs.org.uk
Jane Eccles, Communications Manager. Tel 020 7261 8620.
Email: jane.eccles@nta-nhs.org.uk
Out of hours: 07789 653 158
Department of Health press office contact:
Jonathan Carroll. Tel 020 7210 5623.
Email jonathan.carroll@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Home Office press office contact:
Allan Ross. Tel 020 7035 3836.
Email allan.ross@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
