Wednesday 31 May 2023
The Combined Substance Use Strategy 2022 Annual Report has today been published and is on track to achieve its aims by 2026. This marks the first report since the new strategy was approved.
The 'Combined Substance Use Strategy 2021-2026' was approved by the Committee for Health & Social Care in 2021. This replaced the Drug and Alcohol Strategy and marks the second strategy to take a health-based approach to substance use and misuse. The Combined Substance Use Strategy was the first to combine tobacco, alcohol and drugs into a single strategy.
There are three main strategic outcomes which are to:
- Promote and protect health and wellbeing;
- Minimise the harm caused by substance use and promote recovery and rehabilitation; and
- Evidence-based treaties, legislation, policy and actions.
Operational delivery of many areas of the strategy are managed by Public Health's close partner, the Health Improvement Commission (HIC), who in 2018 took over operational responsibility for the Healthy Weight, Tobacco Control and Drug and Alcohol Strategies. As well as their work as a commissioning body, the Health Improvement Commission delivers initiatives, fund community-led projects and services, develop and implement campaigns, develop resources, and provide education, advocate for health, support workforce development and training and advise on policy. Alongside this, Public Health lead on treaties, legislation and policy.
The implementation of the Strategy is overseen by the Substance Use Technical Team, a multidisciplinary group which includes representatives from Public Health, the Health Improvement Commission, Pharmacy, Mental Health Services, Primary Care, Bailiwick Law Enforcement, and a member of the public who is an expert by experience.
Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health said
'Public Health has worked in close partnership with the Health Improvement Commission and other partners who make up the Technical Team to deliver the Strategy and we look forward to continuing this close working relationship as we implement the strategic aims of the Strategy.'
Andrea Nightingale, Substance Use Lead for the Health Improvement Commission said:
'This Strategy is very much focussed on prevention and early intervention integrated into effective treatment services, ensuring they are person centred and trauma informed.
The close partnership working with Public Health enables the Strategy to concentrate on the operational delivery whilst Public Health ensures the wider determinants of health are considered through legislation and policies.
We are also very grateful to our commissioned services in the community; In-Dependence and Action for Children, as well as the Community Drug and Alcohol Team who provide a range of support to people who live with substance use dependence as well as affected family members.'
Highlights from the annual report include:
- The roll out of the Quit Genius initiative, a mobile phone based tool offering remote support and nicotine replacement therapy assisting people to quit smoking;
- Continuation of the Count 14 campaign which aims to give people the information, knowledge, and skills to manage their alcohol consumption in a healthy way;
- The development of the refined Prison Substance Use Service which provides both 1-to-1 consultations and groupwork assisting individuals to change their pattern of substance use and understanding the links between mental illness and antisocial or offending behaviour;
- Continued service development and positive feedback from service users of Commissioned community-based agencies Action for children and In-Dependence;
- Approval from the Committee forHealth & Social Care to continue work to move toward regulating e-cigarettes in line with UK regulations, together with banning smoking in cars carrying children; and
- Engagement with children's residential care settings to develop initiatives to encourage, empower and enable children in care to become or remain smokefree.
The full report and annual reports from commissioned services can be accessed via www.gov.gg/CSUSAnnualReports
The Substance Use Strategy (2021-2026) can be accessed via: https://www.gov.gg/substanceuse
