Drugs and alcohol localities commissioning prospectus Introduction Alcohol and drugs are cross cutting issues that impact on a diverse range of people and communities. The strategy in Staffordshire for responding to these problems is equally broad; involving a number of commissioned services, while incorporating contributions from non specialist organisations that can contribute to the achievement of desired outcomes. We wish to develop innovative projects from organisations that can demonstrate how they can contribute to the drug and alcohol strategy, as summarised below and in the appendices. Strategic approach The strategic vision of Staffordshire Alcohol and Drug Executive Board (ADEB) is to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by drug/alcohol use and involves three strategic strands (see appendix x): Prevention/ early intervention Regulation/ enforcement Treatment/ recovery There is a further cross cutting theme of responsibility, where the in terms of empowering people to take person responsibility for their problems, promoting the responsibility of parents for their children or the responsibility for licensees to trade appropriately. The strategy also recognises that drug/alcohol issues do not just affect those individuals with problems, but also impacts on their families and communities. Similarly, it is also recognised that families and communities (including the voluntary sector) can play a major role in addressing drug/alcohol problems. There are a range of specialist services that help deliver the ADEB plan. However, given the crosscutting nature of drug/alcohol problems (involving health, crime, accommodation, child protection etc.) these services cannot deliver the strategy alone. There are opportunities for a wider range of organisations to complement specialist services in achieving the desired outcomes (see appendix x). Outcomes The outcomes we wish to achieve a varied but can be grouped in relation to target groups i.e. people without problems; those will relatively low level problems and those with entrenched issues see appendix x. Bids We wish to encourage bids that can demonstrably contribute to any aspect of the strategy, particularly: Prevention projects that can show how they will make people (particularly young people) more resilient to developing drug/alcohol problems, not least by targeting vulnerable groups by reducing risk factors and/ or promoting protective factors (see appendix x) Treatment projects that can show how they can complement the services provided by specialist organisations by contributing the people s wider health and social needs relating to their drug/alcohol use possibly relating to housing, training, employment, health or emotional/psychological issues.
Appendix: Prevention targeting vulnerable groups, mitigating risk factors and developing protective factors Vulnerable groups Looked after children People involved in the criminal justice system Children of drug/alcohol using parents People displaying multiple risks factors/low protective factors (see below) People with emotional/mental health problems NEETs Young People not in education, employment or training Risk factors Availability of drugs/alcohol Economic deprivation Parental (or sibling) drug/alcohol use Family conflict Problematic/ risk taking/ rebellious/ offending behaviour Low commitment to school/ academic achievement Association with drug/alcohol using peers Protective factors Community cohesion Strong family bonds Conventional/ constructive interests/activities Strong support structures Self efficacy/ problem solving skills
Appendix I: Outcomes to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by drugs and alcohol No. Target audience Outcomes 1 People not using drugs/alcohol problematically Greater resilience to drug/alcohol problems, through: Reduced risk factors Improved protective factors Particularly of for vulnerable groups (see x) 2 People with low level drug/alcohol problems (binge/harmful drinkers/ recreational drug users ) 3 Dependent drinkers/ drug users Problematic drug use drinking stopped or reduced to within safe limits and reduce associated problems, including: Drink driving Violence in the night time economy Domestic violence A&E attendances (acute intoxications etc.) Anti social behaviour Reduced drug/alcohol use Improved health (physical and mental) Happier families Safer communities Improved resourcefulness (jobs, accommodation etc.)
Appendix I: Drug and alcohol strategic framework Individual Family Community Prevention/ early intervention PSHE/ education Campaigns Therapeutic programmes (e.g. Preventure) Strengthening Families Programme Parental rule setting Asset based community development (ABCD) Diversionary activities Social norming Brief interventions Regulation/ enforcement Probation orders Conditional cautioning Proxy sales initiatives Policing Licensing restrictions Alcohol restriction zones Treatment/ Specialist addiction services Supported housing Links into mainstream services Family involvement in generic treatment Family specific interventions Hidden Harm initiatives Building recovery communities Peer support networks Focus on stigma Carers support
Appendix II: Balanced approach commissioned services, peer/family approaches and community assets Peers/ families Specialist services Community assets 12 step fellowships Prevention Community groups SMART Early intervention Charities Champions Self help groups Regulation Enforcement Treatment Businesses Health/ social care services Carers support Housing associations