Launch of ADP five year strategy to tackle drug deaths

Representatives of the multi-agency Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership headed to City Square in a public show of commitment as its long-term strategy to tackle drug and alcohol related harm and deaths in the city was unveiled (Tuesday January 17).

The group working to cut harm caused by drugs and alcohol across the city’s communities is issuing a rallying call to local people, urging their support for ongoing efforts to make Dundee a better place for everyone.

Following a review last year by the Dundee Drugs Commission into its original recommendations, city agencies have created a new revised plan outlining action to reduce and prevent harm in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, on the same day as the launch, the Dundee ADP is immediately taking its strategy forward. In partnership with the Scottish Drugs Forum, the ADP is jointly delivering a special development event in the city for frontline staff with the aim of increasing their confidence, knowledge and skills in supporting people using cocaine.

Titled:  "Working together to prevent harm and support recovery", the Strategic Framework and accompanying Delivery Plan have received input from frontline staff and people with lived experience.

Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership’s Strategic Framework 2023-28 focuses on five high-level priorities:

1. Reduce significant harms linked to drug and alcohol use by delivering the right care in the right place at the right time
2. Promote a culture of kindness, compassion and hope, tackle stigma and discrimination and embed trauma-informed practices
3. Reduce the enduring impact of drug and alcohol use through an increased focus on prevention
4. Empower people and communities affected by substance use to participate in and influence decision-making, commissioning, planning and improvements
5. Ensure appropriate and effective governance arrangements and strengthen communications with stakeholders.

The delivery plan for the first two years outlines a series of commitments alongside actions that will be taken.

Recent progress is also noted on a number of areas including the city’s nationally-recognised approach to non-fatal overdoses, as well as the roll-out of lifesaving Naloxone to people across Dundee.

Ambitions include:

• Increase in same day prescribing and access to independent advocacy.
• Significant progress in the implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment Standards (MAT), including same day prescribing, comprehensive harm reduction and increase in support available from Primary Care (working in partnership with the third sector)
• Increased access to residential rehabilitation.
• Transfer of services out of Constitution House and into community settings.
• Reducing stigma and enhancing trauma-informed responses across all services.
• More support to staff to help them feel valued, less burnout and more supported in their work.
• Better support for kinship carers and a bigger focus on whole family supports.
• Implementation of a Dundee Prevention Framework already developed by services in the city.
• Increase in advocacy supports, peer recovery / mutual aid groups and opportunities for people with lived experience to become involved in their community and in efforts to improve services and supports.

Over a 5-year period the plan aims to deliver a reduction in non-fatal overdoses and drug and alcohol related deaths, as well as improving the quality of life and wellbeing for people affected.

Through a greater focus on prevention and whole family responses, the plan also aims to prevent more people using drugs and alcohol in the future.

Through the plan the ADP is also committing to being more meaningfully informed by people with lived experience, both community members and the workforce, and to communicate more clearly and regularly with the everyone about the work they are doing and the impact this is having.

ADP Independent chair John Wyllie explained: "While there is still a lot to do, much progress has been made supported by a truly multi-agency effort and my thanks go to partners across the city who are rising to this challenge on a daily basis.

"Our frontline staff have demonstrated outstanding commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic and this strategic plan includes a commitment to provide them the support to continue delivering high quality services.

"They are committed and caring individuals who deserve our respect, support and care as they deliver critical services to those in our communities in most need of support and compassion. It is important that we listen to, understand and act on the needs of people using our services and those delivering them – we are delivering services for people by people and needs and service provision require to be matched as closely as we can.

"The ADP will need everyone’s support, whatever their individual circumstances are if we are to make a sustained and lasting difference.

"It is important as we move forward that we deliver on our plans if we are to achieve better outcomes for people. Determined focus will be key to delivery and we have set out a range of areas we wish to tackle in the short, medium and long term, over the lifetime of the plan.

"Let us move forward together with determination, kindness and compassion focusing on the things we can all do to tackle the harm caused by alcohol and drug use.

"By doing this we can and will make things better for everyone who lives in, works in or is otherwise linked to Dundee."

Dundee Partnership chair and city council leader John Alexander said: "This plan illustrates the absolute determination that exists in Dundee to cut the harm caused by alcohol and drugs in our communities. I want see Dundee become a City of Recovery, and that is only possible through the strength that is displayed by partners from across organisations and the third sector.

"There is no simple answer available in single place for this decades-old problem. It is only through everyone working together that we can have the biggest impact. There will be regular updates on progress and I hope that we can bring the city into the future together, showing kindness, compassion and hope to everyone."

Dr Emma Fletcher, Director of Public Health for NHS Tayside, said, "We very much welcome this ADP plan, particularly with the focus on prevention and harm reduction.

"People with problem substance use have often experienced considerable life adversity, frequently from a young age. Problem substance use is rarely an independent choice by an individual but the result of a complex interplay of social, economic and health factors. Therefore, our response must encompass the upstream factors that contribute to good health and wellbeing, in addition to ensuring people are provided with best person-centred care, tailored to their needs and circumstances.

"The ADP is invaluable in bringing together all partner agencies with the shared commitment to work with people, friends, families and communities affected to reduce and prevent alcohol and drug harm in Dundee in future.”

Dundee City Council chief executive and chair of the Public Protection Chief Officer Group Greg Colgan said: "The Alcohol and Drug Partnership has produced a roadmap which acknowledges the size of the challenges faced by the city, but also commits to how action will be taken in the years ahead.

"I would like to take this opportunity to praise staff in our agencies and the third sector for the immense efforts they have been making to turn this situation around in extremely difficult circumstances.”

Kathryn Baker, chief executive of Tayside Council on Alcohol, said: “I’m delighted to be part of the development and implementation of this plan as a representative of the innovative and committed third sector services we have working across the city. It’s clear that real change requires collaboration and partnership not just across statutory and third sector organisations but with groups, individuals and families living within our communities. The plan reflects this need whilst acknowledging the challenges we face in addressing more recent trends such as the increase in alcohol related deaths across Scotland.”

Vicky Irons, chief officer of the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership said: "Every drug death is a tragedy and we are aware that there are many challenges ahead as we look to enact meaningful changes with partners across the city.

"I firmly believe that this new strategy and delivery plan sets out some key methods and targets to achieve improvements."

You can find the strategic framework and delivery plan at https://www.dundeeprotects.co.uk/

• Share this page:
• Share On Twitter
• Share On Facebook
• Share On LinkedIn