Resources needed to ensure HSC substance use report will work
SAFE and secure accommodation will be needed to help people impacted by drink or drugs in future, according to the business manager of In-dependence.
The substance abuse/addiction charity works with those affected by drink and drugs and in the wake of the publication of Health and Social Care’s combined substance use strategy, Tracey Rear, pictured, said that it was a good report, but she had concerns.
‘The strategy is well-considered but I think when it comes to implementation it will all depend on resources,’ she said.
Several ideas are put forward in the report, such as the possibility of minimum-unit-pricing for alcohol, banning advertising of alcohol at sports events, and generally to have substance use treated as a health issue.
It also hints at reconsidering policy on the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use.
Public Health has reviewed how other jurisdictions treat this drug possession from a health-orientated approach, and considered alternative approaches to possession offences.
‘We don’t take a stance on any of that,’ said Ms Rear.
‘We work with people who are impacted.’
Ms Rear said that if there is insufficient safe and secure accommodation in which to conduct work with people, the need will not be met.
In-Dependence already sees people in prison and she said that some good work could be done there.
‘But if they don’t have any accommodation to go into when they come out, our work isn’t going to be that effective.
‘It talks about partnership working but I’m not sure what these will look like.’
The working group with which Ms Rear was involved provided a lot of feedback in relation to some of the report’s key performance indicators.
‘How do we get it to work, because they’re talking about resources and tax raises at the moment?
‘We know we have two dry houses in the island, but what about people who want to continue drinking?’
To encourage behaviour change there needed to be some motivation, she said.
‘We’re used to working with people who have very little motivation – in the prison, and people on probation orders. Much of the work is about motivation and what their values are.
‘If you have safe and secure accommodation you can think about motivation.’
