Drug misuse: treatment

Increase in drug misusers accessing treatment

Rationale

This indicator is directly related to a Department of Health PSA Target. Improving drug treatment is recognised by Ministers and the Prime Minister as the linchpin of the national drugs strategy. This is based on evidence showing the dramatic effects that access to effective drug treatment can have for the individual and in reducing crime. These benefits include substantial financial savings within both the criminal justice system via reduced offending and the NHS through reduction in blood-borne diseases amongst drug misusers, and also the other associated health costs that a chaotic drug misuser will account for. Reducing Drug Misuse is one of the key priorities in the Priorities and Planning Framework (PPF) for 2003-2006. PCTs have a key role, with other partners, in commissioning integrated treatment and prevention programmes and in implementing national guidance. The PPF includes the PSA target to increase the participation of problem drug users in treatment programmes by 55% by 2004 and 100% by 2008 (from a 1998 baseline). PCTs have been asked to plan to achieve this in their Local Delivery Plans.

Thresholds

Legend
Achieved		50% or more
Underachieved	-	Greater than or equal to 40% and less than 50%
Significantly underachieved	x	Less than 40%