Responding to a Government-commissioned report by Professor Dame
Carol Black into drugs misuse and the announcement of a further
drugs review focused on prevention, treatment and recovery, Cllr
Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s
Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils are absolutely committed
to ensuring drug users get the right treatment and support, as part
of their public health and other wider responsibilities. “This
includes helping vulnerable people...Request free trial
Responding to a Government-commissioned report by Professor Dame
Carol Black into drugs misuse and the announcement of a further
drugs review focused on prevention, treatment and recovery, Cllr
Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s
Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Councils are absolutely committed to ensuring drug users get the
right treatment and support, as part of their public health and
other wider responsibilities.
“This includes helping vulnerable people being given another chance
to find work, rebuild relationships, improve their physical and
mental health and find safe and secure accommodation.
“While latest estimates suggest there are about 200,000 people
receiving help for substance misuse, it is essential that we reach
out to the estimated 100,000 who are not.
“Working with government alongside local NHS, community groups and
other partners, councils want to ensure everyone gets the support
they need wherever possible.
“We have long argued that reductions to councils’ public health
grant, which is used to fund drug and alcohol prevention and
treatment services, is a false economy which will only compound
acute pressures for criminal justice and NHS services further down
the line.
“This is why we are urgently calling for the public health grant to
be published as soon as possible, as well as for the upcoming
Budget and Spending Review to be used to secure sustainable
long-term funding for public health.”
