Service users and people in recovery have a key role to play in leading the development of local drug and alcohol treatment systems, Paul Hayes told DDN's Together we Stand service user conference in Birmingham on Thursday 16 February.

Speaking to the 500 strong audience who had come together to share their views and voice their concerns about developments in drug and alcohol treatment, the NTA chief executive said the localism agenda meant that the power now rested with the people. 

"You are powerful people," he said. "You need to come together with other powerful people in society to form alliances to make the case for continuing investment in drug and alcohol services. The solution doesn't lie with just you or me. We all need to make a sound, solid, political argument. Society benefits from investment in drug and alcohol treatment and locally this is an area that needs to continue to be invested in.

"If we can get this right, if we can get local authorities to own the agenda, to invest in drug and alcohol treatment alongside tackling issues like housing, employment and reintegration into society, then bringing drugs and alcohol together under Public Health England (PHE) can be the next big step change of improvement in the provision of drug and alcohol treatment in England."