Recommendation 27

HM Government · verbatim extract Not Addressed

Nationally, the Government recognises the need to include the experience of people affected by drugs in developing, delivering and improving work to combat illicit drugs and communities are at the centre of the outcomes to reduce drug-related harms, deaths, crime and use. Examples of where such contributions have made a real difference include the roll out of Project ADDER, the development of the Commissioning Quality Standard, Drug Strategy guidance for local delivery partners, local guidance capability frameworks for treatment roles, and new guidance on recovery support services. We will continue to do more as we move forward. For example, the commissioning quality standard has seen local partnerships seeking ways to improve involvement of people with experience and related recovery organisations. Dr Ed Day, as the National Recovery Champion, has led work with the College of Lived Experience Recovery Organisations to promote and improve recovery support service provision and support the sustainable growth of such initiatives. This has included engagement with lived experience recovery organisations, to help him to produce an information pack for commissioners and service providers to raise greater awareness and enthusiasm. Dr Day has also worked with the Government to carry out a survey of local authority commissioners to better understand current provision in England, as well as a review of the international evidence. Dr Day’s work has informed the co-development of new guidance to help alcohol and drug treatment and recovery partnerships to understand the evidence for, value of and ways to foster and support lived experience initiatives and recovery support services. The Ministry of Justice is also introducing a new temporary accommodation service providing up to 12 weeks of accommodation after release for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. The Department for Work and Pensions is developing wider employment support for people in treatment to help them find employment through peer mentors. They are able to use their own experience of addiction and recovery to help individuals disclose their dependency to Jobcentres and access the support they need to move closer to work. At the heart of Project ADDER is embedding learning to ensure their reflections and personal experiences are considered through the interventions that are delivered. The Home Office also works closely with The National Experts Citizens Group, a representative group whose members have relevant experience and join Project ADDER expert panel sessions. These are aimed at discussing ways in which we can improve the services we deliver through the programme. We welcome the strategy’s commitment to supporting families. It focuses on the important role of the family in preventing drug use, particularly in relation to young people. However, it does not recognise the role that families can play in the treatment and recovery of family members who have already developed a dependence on drugs. Our discussions with families also made it clear that the level of support available for families, particularly mental health support, could be improved.