Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)
There has been an increase in the prevalence of drug use (opiate, crack and other drugs) and 25% of men and 17% of women in the city are drinking above safe limits. The drugs and alcohol needs assessment is compiled using data from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) and the ¶®ÒõµÛ Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) database following the guidance of the central government .
Looking at national and local data, key needs identified were:
- There has been a fall in the number of opiate users in drug treatment but there has been an increase in opiate and crack users from the previous year
- There is a link between particularly groups and drug use, particularly white people (although there is an increase in BME users), unemployed people, people living in deprived areas and homeless people
- The completion of drug treatment has decreased and the numbers completing alcohol treatment are low, with clients travelling outside of their wards to receive treatment
- Drug use is changing into a more complex and frequently shifting pattern; cannabis and legal highs have become a more significant issue
- All service providers should use a single case management system and a classification system to ensure the pathways of clients runs smoothly from treatment to recovery
Gaps in the knowledge
- Data is inconsistent as figures do not always match anecdotal evidence from drugs workers
- There is a lack of research on the health effects (including mental health) of drug and alcohol misuse in adults, the number of indirect deaths is increasing
- There may be barriers for Black and Asian communities to access treatment
- Lack of data on “legal highs”