In 2017, the Home Office released a new national Drug Strategy. The strategy aims to focus on reducing illicit and other harmful drug and substance misuse, whilst increasing the rates of recovery from dependence. This reflects the renewed effort and collaboration between organisations across the public sector to combat drug and substance misuse.

The number of deaths related to poisoning by substance abuse reached 2,503 in 2017, an increase of 38% higher than in 2007, and the number of hospital admissions for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders, 7,258, increasing by 9% since 2007/08. However, the impact of substance misuse extends further with 8% of people in drug and alcohol treatment saying they had an urgent housing problem, which largely equates to being homeless.

At least 46,000 children in England involved in drug-related gang activity, including around 4,000 teenagers in London alone being exploited through ‘county lines’. In addition, the number of drugs found in UK prisons rose by 23% in one year in 2018, leading to the publication of the Prison Drugs Strategy in April, which features joint efforts to aid drugs recovery by the Ministry of Justice, HMPPS, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

This conference will provide attendees with an invaluable opportunity to hear the latest initiatives from across the public sector in developing national policies to overcome drug and substance misuse, as well as highlighting the key flaws in existing policies which need to be addressed and rectified. Speakers will cover a range of topics, from harm reduction initiatives in the NHS to address substance misuse to overcoming racial disparity in drug-related arrests. Participants will be able to listen to case studies demonstrating successful approaches to improve different areas of substance misuse policies, including drugs in local housing, drugs and alcohol education, and County Lines, with guidance in training and supporting staff to apply these approaches within their own organisations.

Join to discuss and debate how we can draw on strong partnerships across government, NHS trusts, charities of varying sizes, and police forces to help improve and transform the delivery and efficiency of national efforts to tackle drug and substance misuse.