CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK
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LOCALISM AND AUSTERITY
This research strand, running until 2012, will document the impact of increasing localism and decentralisation, alongside decreasing public service expenditure, on action in local areas to tackle the problems associated with illicit drugs.
It will:
- Illustrate how across the country local priorities and strategies to address substance use problems are being affected by the changing landscape of public service commissioning and delivery, fiscal constraint, and the building of the ‘Big Society.’
- Draw lessons from case study examples of emerging responses to partnership configurations and the devolving of responsibilities and management of resources in tackling problems associated with illicit drugs.
- Identify from available evidence the likely consequences of decisions to cease or reform activities and interventions in order to reduce expenditure and/or improve service delivery.
The first component of the research strand included a seminar on Payments by Results. A report on the seminar is available here.
The research strand included a survey and workshop of police officers working in the field of drug enforcement. A report on the survey is available here.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this project as a case study, would like to share examples of existing practice, or would like more information about the research, please contact Helen Beck, Policy Researcher hbeck[at]ukdpc.org.uk or telephone: 0207 812 3791.
The project is being funded by Barclays.
THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY
Phase one of our research on families of people with drug problems has now been concluded. The reports demonstrate the real value of the family contribution to drug treatment and the severity of the costs they incur as a result of a loved one's drug use.
The reports are free to access here.
Phase two of our Familes research is now underway with funding from the Pilgrim Trust and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs (SFAD). Starting with a short on-line survey of current services, the project will examine the extent and nature of professional family support across the UK and identify models of good practice. The research will provide services and commissioners at both local and national levels with information on gaps in provision and models for developing improved services.
If you would like more information about the project please contact info@ukdpc.org.uk
STIGMA AND DRUG USE
Every drug user is someone's daughter or somebody's son, but shame, guilt or fear of being labeled an addict can stop drug users and families seeking help. Previous research has also shown that while support, access to services, jobs and housing are of key importance to sustained recovery sometimes these may be difficult to obtain due to fear, intolerance or misunderstanding on the part of employers, service providers and the general public.
With funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Scottish Drugs Recovery Consortium, the UKDPC research project is seeking to identify, for the first time, the scale of discrimination and stigma towards drug users through an examination of public attitudes, media reporting and other analysis. This is the first phase of a research project through which we hope to open up new conversations with stakeholders from a range sectors involved with drug users and their families on the impact of stigma and prejudice and how it might be challenged across all sectors and communities.
The reports from this first phase of the project are available here.
