Tackling Drugs in Scotland. Page :6

Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership

chapter 3
The united response to the DRUG problem must go beyond national boundaries and embrace other countries facing this world-wide menace

Part 3: The Government's Agenda
What more needs to be done?
This chapter considers the further action required to build on Scotland's existing strategy.
A solid base
The Government, backed by all the agencies in Scotland, have been pursuing a vigorous response to the drug misuse problem. There are strategies both at national and local level, flowing from the Task Force report. There are also structures at local and national level. But there is scope for more effective co-ordinated action, which is pursued by all the key players.

That united response to the drug problem must go beyond national boundaries and embrace other countries facing this world-wide menace, not least in the UK. The Government's White Paper, Tackling Drugs To Build a Better Britain, recognises that, and has put in place a new UK framework for tackling drug misuse which recognises the different strategies and circumstances of the individual countries but builds in cross-border partnership. The benefits of such partnership are clear in dealing with the growing international drugs trade across UK and international boundaries. But the gains in other ways such as pooling knowledge of policies and approaches, undertaking joint research and sharing intelligence are equally significant.
	Main action points from DAT Association Conference, October 1998 UK Aim (i) : Young People Education should be: > wider than schools; > delivered in partnership, consistent, targeted, credible and appropriate; > subject to evaluation and research; > funded on a holistic basis. Communications should be: > carefully targeted to different parts of the community. UK Aim (ii) Communities Community Planning and community safety approaches should harness support. Provide accessible information. Develop genuine community partnerships.
Further action?
The Government has looked at Scotland's drugs strategy against this new UK framework. This document is the outcome. It draws together the themes of the Drugs Task Force report, recent Scottish experience of the drug issue and the areas for further action described in the UK White Paper. The result - an enhanced drugs strategy for Scotland - is also Scotland's contribution to further development of the UK strategy by the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator.

The Government have been assisted in this task by those in the field, and in particular by the members of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM), Scotland's Drug Action Teams, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the voluntary sector and individual specialists.

SACDM's contribution to the work included participation in a Scottish Office led Working Group, while the DAT Association hosted a special conference attended by representatives from all the Teams in Scotland. COSLA contributed by submitting a paper prepared by the newly formed Scottish Local Government Drugs Forum following consultations with all 32 Scottish local authorities. The Government have also taken into account the conclusions from a Working Group set up by the Scottish Drugs Forum.

The main message from this work is that Scotland has in place many of the key elements identified in the UK strategy, but that delivery mechanisms need to be sharpened. The Scottish Advisory Committee looked to further improvement in the strategic framework, with greater co-ordination of local and national planning linked to the Government's social agenda and related initiatives. The recent policy evaluation of DATs has also demonstrated the need for greater cohesion both locally and nationally. A number of other suggestions for action were made ranging across a number of areas including treatment services, young people, community safety and drugs in prisons.

This document therefore addresses that agenda - not to produce a raft of further new strategies on top of what needs to be implemented at present - but rather to establish effective delivery mechanisms which will: focus on results; monitor progress; treat drug misuse together with other social and environmental factors; make structural and accountability changes to support partnership; be long term; and bring together common research, information and performance bases.	"The Forum believes there is a need for the development of a clear national plan which incorporates both the 1994 Task Force report and builds on the themes of the 1998 White Paper "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain". Report by the Scottish Local Government Drugs Forum, submitted by COSLA, 1999.

The range and complexity of drug misuse brings with it an array of different approaches, involving all the arms of Government and national and local agencies. This strengthened framework aims to join up the areas where effective partnerships must be taken up, look for new ways of working together, integrate efforts, and make common purpose. Good effective co-ordination can make all the difference. It provides focus and value for money instilling common cause and purpose.	Main action points from DAT Association Conference, October 1998 UK Aim (iii) Treatment Integrated, effective and efficient response. Better organisation and joint working with more resources to pump prime step change. Ensuring minimum levels of service provision throughout Scotland. Research on best value treatments with dissemination throughout country. UK Aim (iv) Availability Enhance civil law removal of drug assets and invest in communities. DATs to explore partnership working. Align action with community safety strategies. Create environment for communities to identify drug dealers. Research process by which young people acquire drugs.

The complexity of drug misuse and the scale and nature of the interventions involved in tackling it means that performance measurement is not straightforward. But the public rightly expects objective and rigorous assessment of effectiveness in this area as in others. The Scottish Parliament and Executive who will set future priorities for tackling drug misuse in Scotland will need to be sure that strong mechanisms are in place.

New delivery mechanisms
The framework has clear and challenging objectives, building on what works in the fight against drugs. It sets cohesive and measurable outcomes so that, on the basis of sound information, Government know what is happening, what action requires to be taken and which priorities need to be addressed. It places DATs at the centre locally and SACDM nationally as the Government's key advisory body on drugs misuse.

SACDM will report annually on progress in implementing the strategy. Direct drugs measures will be linked to wide-reaching programmes to get people off benefit and into work, with reforms in the welfare state, education, health, housing, criminal justice and the economy. Ways to promote social inclusion will be an important component. Challenging work programmes will arise from this strategy, both nationally and locally. This framework aims to ensure that new measures are properly considered, funded and acted on.

This document will be available to the Scottish Parliament in their consideration of the challenges and opportunities before us in tackling drug misuse in Scotland, and to the UK Parliament in considering the reserved drug regulation issues affecting Scotland.

Government must and will give a lead. Common action that works against illegal drugs is the challenge and this framework sets out the means.