Agenda item

Report of the Director of Public Health

Members of the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) have been invited to the meeting for consideration of this item. Councillors Caan and Clifford, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services have also been invited to attend.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health which provided an update on the progress made in delivering the city wide alcohol and drug strategies which had been developed by partners to steer and guide work to tackle and address alcohol and drug misuse in the city. Members of the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) attended the meeting for the consideration of this item, in particular the update on the Family Drug and Alcohol Court. Councillor Clifford, Deputy Cabinet Member Health and Adult Services also attended. 

The report informed of the estimated numbers of individuals who were alcohol dependent or were opiate and crack users in the city and reference was made to the increasing use of psychoactive substances (legal highs). The Coventry Household Survey revealed that the rate of those drinking above recommended NHS guidelines had decreased from 46% in 2007 to 30% in 2012. The national figures for drug use among young people showed fewer young people using drugs. 

The key themes of the strategies were:

(i) Providing effective prevention and recovery focused treatment

(ii) Changing and challenging attitudes and behaviour

(iii) Controlling the supply and promoting alcohol-free and drug-free environments.

The strategies were owned and driven by the multi-agency Drug and Alcohol Steering Group which was chaired by Councillor Clifford and included representatives from the partner organisations.

The report set out progress in relation to the above three key themes of the strategies.

Regarding the first theme, the report referred to the specialist treatment services available; the alternatives to structured treatment; tackling hidden harm, early intervention and young people’s treatment; treatment for dual diagnosis patients; domestic violence and abuse; and the Alcohol Liaison Nurse Service. Information was also provided on the new Family Drug and Alcohol Court which was a pioneering initiative specialising in tackling drug and alcohol issues in families whose children are subject to care proceedings. A specialist team of partners work alongside families throughout the court proceedings and families saw their judge every fortnight to address problems.

For the second theme, the report drew attention to a number of issues including the Alcohol Intervention and Brief Advice intervention; intelligence building; communications strategy; street drinking; contingency management intervention; young people and housing; and legal highs.

The report referred to the following areas in relation to the third theme, Public Space Protection Orders; review of licences; and undertaking intelligence led underage test purchasing.

Members questioned the officers on a number of issues arising from the report and responses were provided, matters raised included:

·  Further information about what was being done to identify and support children at risk where their families were involved with drugs and alcohol

·  The measures used to identify and help children aged 0 to 5 years

·  Concerns about the toxic triangle (substance misuse, domestic abuse and mental health) and details about the work of midwives and health visitors

·  Information about the new Family Drug and Alcohol Court

·  Patient referrals to the Recovery Partnership and what could be done if patients refused to engage

·  Partnership working with the Police in relation to problem areas with significant drug and alcohol issues

·  A potential correlation between decreasing numbers of recreational drugs users and the increasing numbers of young people being prescribed anti-depressants

·   A request for further information on recent trends in the behaviour and attitudes of young people in relation to the recent reduction in drug and alcohol misuse

·  Further details about the declining levels of alcohol dependency alongside the increasing numbers who drank far more than the recommended levels

·  The importance of early prevention measures

·  The work being undertaken in schools to support pupils and their families.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The progress made over the last year with Coventry’s Alcohol and Drug Strategies be endorsed.

(2) Future reports to include details of the numbers of referrals made by the Recovery Partnership to the Referral and Assessment Service, including details of the referrals not taken up.