Issue - meetings

The Senior Public Health Commissioner provided the Board with an update on the updated Telford & Wrekin Alcohol and Drugs Strategy 2024-2029 that had been developed by the Telford and Wrekin Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Board during 2023. Members heard that the previous strategy had come to an end in May 2023 and that it had been successful in achieving three of its main aims; increasing the number of people receiving alcohol treatment, improving outcomes for alcohol and drugs treatment, and providing better support for children and young people affected by their parents’ addiction to alcohol and other drugs. However, the Senior Public Health Commission noted that the number of people seeking treatment for alcohol issues had increased by 24%.

The Board were informed that in 2021 the government published the Dame Carol Black Review and a new national strategy, From Harm to Hope, which set out an ambitious 10-year plan to prevent, treat and support recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. The Senior Public Health Commissioner explained that in  2022 the local Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Board was reformed to oversee the production of a new strategy. This Board was chaired by the Director of Public Health. Members heard that the new Alcohol and Drugs Forum was launched in 2023 and brought together partners to work with people with alcohol and other drug problems and to co-produce a new strategy with the Partnership Board. The Senior Public Health Commissioner explained that there were 16 commitments within the strategy, one for each of the four main branches of the strategy. These commitments had been included in an annual action plan that was to be overseen by the Local Partnership Board and the performance indicators included would be reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board on an annual basis. It was noted that this could also be broadened to include drug related crime.

Members of the Board welcomed the strategy and thanked the Senior Public Health Commissioner for their update. The Board recognised the importance of partnership working when tackling an issue that effects so many people and has the potential to impact on other services such as mental health and domestic abuse. Members commended that the number of adults completing treatment in Telford and Wrekin was higher than the national average. 

RESOLVED - that the Telford & Wrekin Alcohol and Drugs Strategy 2024-2029 be approved.