“Councils are absolutely committed to ensuring drug users get the right treatment and support, as part of their public health and other wider responsibilities."
Responding to a Government-commissioned report by Professor Dame Carol Black into drugs misuse and the announcement of a further drugs review focused on prevention, treatment and recovery, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Councils are absolutely committed to ensuring drug users get the right treatment and support, as part of their public health and other wider responsibilities.
“This includes helping vulnerable people being given another chance to find work, rebuild relationships, improve their physical and mental health and find safe and secure accommodation.
“While latest estimates suggest there are about 200,000 people receiving help for substance misuse, it is essential that we reach out to the estimated 100,000 who are not.
“Working with government alongside local NHS, community groups and other partners, councils want to ensure everyone gets the support they need wherever possible.
“We have long argued that reductions to councils’ public health grant, which is used to fund drug and alcohol prevention and treatment services, is a false economy which will only compound acute pressures for criminal justice and NHS services further down the line.
“This is why we are urgently calling for the public health grant to be published as soon as possible, as well as for the upcoming Budget and Spending Review to be used to secure sustainable long-term funding for public health.”