Substance Use Strategy Implementation

Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery – Substance Use Strategy:

A Strategic Framework to Tackle the Harm from Substance Use (2021-31)

The Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery was produced as a specific commitment arising from the New Decade New Approach agreement and was prioritised by the Department of Health both in response to that commitment and also as a key element in our response to the Executive’s overarching Programme for Government. It also has direct links with the Executive’s Strategic Framework for Public Health, Making Life Better, and with the new Mental Health Strategy.

Through the delivery if the Substance Use Strategy a number of key strategic drivers have been identified and must be taken into context when addressing substance use;

• Health inequalities
• Service User Rights
• Trauma and ACEs
• Stigma
• Peer Support
• Impacts of COVID-19
• Learning from international practice including North/South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group

Substance Use Commissioning and Implementation Plan (2024-2028)

From September 2022 to January 2023, the PHA and SPPG hosted ten collaborative multi agency outcomes groups comprising of people with lived and living experience of substance use and representatives of the community, voluntary and statutory sector. The outcomes groups were pre-defined based on the outcomes of the NI Substance Use Strategy Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery.

Each of the outcome’s groups identified and discussed the priorities within their working group and collectively developed a set of actions that could be progressed through the Substance Use Commissioning and Implementation Plan. The actions within the document have been identified as short, medium or long term actions and will be progressed through existing or new working groups as required.

The public consultation of the plan was completed in March 2024 and the document will be officially launched by the Minister for Health, Mike Nesbitt on 26 November 2024.

The Substance Use Commissioning and Implementation Plan can be accessed here : Substance Use Commissioning and Implementation Plan (2024-2028)

Accelerated Workstreams

The PHA and SPPG have prioritised a number of actions of the Substance Use Commissioning and Implementation Plan in order to address the needs of those affected by substance use. The accelerated workstreams have been outlined below;

Accelerated Workstream 1:

HSC Substance Use Needs Assessment for the Population of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland

Figure 8 Consultancy Services Ltd. was commissioned by the Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Department of Health [SPPG], and the Public Health Agency [PHA] in October 2022 to complete a substance use (alcohol and other drugs) services Needs Assessment for the Western Health and Social Care Trust [WHSCT] area.

Figure 8 Consultancy Services Ltd. Worked with the commissioners of this work to complete a series of focus groups, interviews, working groups and stakeholder pathfinder events to undertake this assessment.

On completion, this assessment has provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges experienced within the WHSCT relating to substance use. Not only has this process enabled a review of the existing services and resources currently available for those in need but the assessment also supported organisations to identify gaps of service provision in order to support individuals with substance use issues and also families impacted.

The detailed substance use western needs assessment report has outlined 13 local western recommendations and 6 regional recommendations that should be considered within the wider implementation of the Substance Use Strategy. These recommendations are underpinned by adopting a comprehensive trauma informed system approach for service delivery but also to ensure that individuals and families receive appropriate support, at the right time, and in the right place.

On 6 November 2024, SPPG and the PHA launched the Western Needs Assessment Report with a range of supporting partner organisations including the Western Drug and Alcohol Partnership, DePaul, Western HSC Trust and Action Mental Health.

Download the Substance Use Western Needs Assessment Report Executive Summary at;

Western Trust Area Substance Use NA – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – August 2023