National policy.
The type of treatment needed to tackle substance misuse is very dependant upon the individual needs of the people involved. There is a range of drug treatment available in England and it can be accessed in several ways. The National Treatment Agency (NTA), in its guidance document Models of Care for the Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers (NTA, 2002) defines treatment as:
"... a range of interventions that is intended to remedy an identified drug-related problem or condition relating to a person's physical, psychological or social (including legal) wellbeing.
"Structured drug treatment follows assessment and is delivered according to a care plan, with clear goals, which is regularly reviewed with the client."
This information in more detail can be accessed through www.nta-nhs.org.uk
The Drug Strategy
The Drug Strategy is a cross-Government programme of policies and interventions that concentrate on the most dangerous drugs, the most damaged communities and problematic drug users. The Strategy comprises four strands of work:
- preventing young people from becoming drug misusers;
- reducing the supply of illegal drugs;
- increasing the number of individuals accessing effective drug treatment;
- and reducing drug-related crime.