Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 86
10-Year Drugs Strategy needs to expand its range of harm reduction approaches.
Conclusion
The 10-Year Drugs Strategy recognises some harm reduction approaches but could go further. Abstinence-based recovery may not be an effective form of treatment for everyone. A broader range of harm reduction treatments are therefore required to help as many people into recovery as possible.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted the conclusion, stating it already provides a broad range of harm reduction interventions, including increasing naloxone availability and supporting local provision of other medicines. It committed to continuing to update guidance on evidence-based harm reduction interventions.
Paragraph Reference:
86
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially accepts this recommendation. We already provide a broad range of harm reduction interventions, and these are enshrined within our Drug Strategy, ‘From Harm to Hope’. For example, we are increasing the availability of naloxone, including naloxone nasal spray, to prevent drug related deaths and committed to supporting local provision of a broader range of medicines including newer medicines such as long-acting buprenorphine injection. The Government is committed to supporting local partners to deliver harm reduction interventions that best meet their local needs. The Drug Strategy makes clear that Combating Drugs Partnerships have the flexibility to identify and implement interventions based on local priorities and needs and that they are able to invest in a comprehensive menu of interventions across the three pillars of the Strategy, including harm reduction interventions. Public Health England (PHE) and later the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) have consistently published guidance for local areas on evidence-based harm reduction interventions since 2013 and will continue to update this guidance with the best available evidence.