Decision details

To consider the findings and recommendations of the Drug and Alcohol Fundamental Review.

54/2008 The Cabinet agreed that the 'Stop that Shop' campaign and hotline, run by Trading Standards to encourage the public to bring to their attention shops that were selling to under-aged young people, should be advertised more widely potentially using Medway Matters.
55/2008 The Cabinet agreed that greater awareness should be given to parents/carers and others through an appropriate media campaign using innovative methods to reach parents, carers and young people. The 'parentis' parenting programme run by the Sunlight Centre could also factor alcohol harm into the programme and could be rolled out to anyone working with young people (The Cabinet also referred this to the Sunlight Centre).
56/2008 The Cabinet agreed that an item should be included in the termly briefing papers that go to all governors urging them to ensure their schools participate in alcohol and drug harm reduction programmes, including the 'Healthier Schools' programme. The subject of alcohol misuse should be added to the model Child Protection Policy for governors and training for all governors should continue to be offered under the headings of the Every Child Matters agenda of staying safe and healthy.
57/2008 The Cabinet agreed to investigate with the Local Magistrates Service, a pilot scheme currently in London that fast-tracks drug and alcohol cases through a specialist court including treatment and recovery services with support from therapists and social workers (The Cabinet also referred this to the Local Strategic Partnership and the Local Magistrates Service).
58/2008 The Cabinet agreed that Medway Council and Medway Primary Care Trust should work more collaboratively in the provision of advice and training to teachers (The Cabinet also referred this to the Medway Primary Care Trust).
59/2008 The Cabinet agreed that school exclusions programmes should routinely include drug and alcohol screening (such as Drug and Alcohol Use Screening Tool - DUST) to identify at an early stage potential substance misuse before more serious behaviour is exhibited. It is also recommended that young people are also screened, as part of primary care prevention services.
60/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council that the Children and Young People's Plan is amended to develop the current targets for the number of qualified PSHE teachers to cover primary schools and to refer explicitly to alcohol as well as drugs education (this will be addressed the next time the Plan is updated and will also be referred to the Medway Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership).
61/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend that the Local Strategic Partnership takes forward the following indicators into the new Local Area Agreement negotiations specifically to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs and to reverse the current increasing trend, especially amongst younger people of alcohol misuse: NI 21: Dealing with local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime by the local council and police. NI 32: Repeat incidents of domestic violence. NI 39: Alcohol-harm related hospital admission rates. NI 41: Perceptions of drunk or rowdy behaviour as a problem. NI 42: Perceptions of drug use or drug dealing as a problem. NI 112: Under 18 conception rate. NI 113: Prevalence of Chlamydia in under 20 year olds. NI 114: Rate of permanent exclusions from school. NI 115: Substance misuse by young people.
62/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to the Local Strategic Partnership that data available on drug and alcohol specific effects on health, well-being, crime and antisocial behaviour be improved to identify hotspots and aid services to target their resources most effectively. Where ever possible drug and alcohol data should be disaggregated.
63/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to the Local Strategic Partnership and the Medway Primary Care Trust to give consideration to relocating the DAAT manager post (currently within the Regeneration and Development Directorate) with other functions providing greater synergies, such as the Primary Care Trust.
64/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend to the Local Strategic Partnership and the Community Safety Partnership that a map of all agencies involved in drug and alcohol work should be produced, setting out their remit and how they link and work together.
65/2008 The Cabinet agreed to recommend that the Community Safety Partnership is encouraged to undertake further research into the causes of the significantly larger number of inpatient hospital admissions for alcohol related conditions and a significantly higher level of drug and alcohol related crimes being committed in River ward to help target partnership activity to reduce the impact of alcohol, drugs, crime, and anti social behaviour.

The scope of the review was to evaluate the commissioning arrangements and identify gaps in the provision of services for drug and alcohol misuse. It was identified early on that the current funding arrangements predominantly favoured adults rather than children, treatment rather than prevention and drugs rather than alcohol misuse. The evidence suggested that, where possible, additional funding should be directed to balance these demands.By recommending a number of drug and alcohol related targets to be included within the new Local Area Agreement, the Local Strategic Partnership can ensure that funding and commissioning of services reflects the growing alcohol problem that Medway faces, particularly with young people under 25 years of age, whilst continuing initiatives that reduce the harm caused by drug misuse.