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Back to Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) E-bulletinsDIP E-bulletin - March 2008
Welcome to the March 2008 edition of the monthly e-bulletin for the Drug Interventions Programme.
Evidence of the Drug Intervention Programme's impact
DIP has just published a round-up document about current evidence on the impact of the programme around the country. Crime reduction, improved health, reduced drug misuse, improved access to treatment and a range of other social and individual benefits are indicated.
The document brings together summaries and sources for the currently identified body of research, local evaluation and analysis of local practice about the impact that the Drug Interventions Programme is having, providing a snapshot of “evidence” – some formal with rigorous academic standards and some more informal – as the programme approaches its fifth anniversary. It is intended as a resource for stakeholders to signpost them to the sources of detailed information.
Some emerging themes from this round-up are:
- DIP is having a positive and consistently significant impact on crime reduction
- DIP is improving access to, and retention in, treatment
- It is thereby helping to reduce drug misuse among people who engage with it
- It is also helping improve their physical and psychological health and well-being
- It is having a positive impact on the stability of their lives and relationships
It should be noted that this is not a review or appraisal of research evidence. A variety of methodologies have been pursued and the Home Office has not quality assured the research presented and makes no comment on the methodologies used or on the quality or scope of the work (other than with regards to the Home Office research study outlined).
It is hoped it will be a useful resource for all DIP stakeholders as a signpost to people and documents that are relevant to their specific area of interest.
The new drug strategy and what it means for DIP
The new drug strategy, which sets out a cross-Government vision and plan for dealing with drugs over the next ten years, was published on 27 February.
Peter Wheelhouse believes that DIP, for which he is Programme Director, has and will continue to have a central role in the strategy.
"The new strategy acknowledges the real successes of the last ten-year strategy, including the delivery of significant reductions in drug-related crime and offending - to which the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) has made a huge contribution. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work in delivering these reductions, which could not have been achieved without your ongoing commitment and dedication to DIP, along with our other partners."
"However, the strategy also recognises that there is more to be done and I would like to set out what I think the new strategy means for the future of DIP."
"There is no doubt that reducing drug-related crime and offending continues to be a key government priority. This is reflected in the new PSA suite (specifically indicator 3 of PSA 25: reduce the rate of drug-related offending) as well as in the new strategy. The strategy also makes clear that DIP will play a key role in achieving this desired outcome, by continuing to present drug-misusing offenders with tough choices to change their behaviour or face consequences."
Mr Wheelhouse says that, as well as ensuring that DIP continues to be delivered effectively, the government has also made a specific commitment in relation to DIP to:
- increase the number of areas offering DIP intensive interventions, on a self-funded basis
- establish a new national DIP regional representatives group to drive operational delivery
- increase the number of DIP-related conditional cautions to 2,000
- review and strengthen CJIT-prison-probation procedures and practices to ensure more effective joint working
- introduce pilots to extend and evaluation integrated offender management models for drug-misusing offenders
Overall funding for DIP will be maintained in 2008/09 at the same level as 07/08 (£149m). Whilst it is not certain that this level of funding will continue beyond 08/09, the new strategy makes it clear that funding levels are expected to remain broadly constant over the remainder of the CSR period.
Easier ordering system for DIP communications materials
DIP continues to have a substantial number of current leaflets, posters and DVDs for use by its partners to help raise awareness and understanding of the programme and it is now even easier to see what’s available and to order online.
The DIP communications section of the Tackling Drugs website lists and describes the full range of materials, some of which can be downloaded as PDFs and some ordered as hard copies. To place orders, you must first register on the website, then you can follow a simple process to order materials direct from the mailing. Delivery usually takes about a week.
Drug testing leaflets now available
DIP drug testing sites around England and Wales have just been sent details of how to order drug testing leaflets, which should be given to anyone who is required to take a test.
In DIP’s first year, the need was identified for a leaflet to give a consistent explanation of the drug test to people being asked to take a drug test for heroine and crack cocaine. Since then the leaflet has been updated several times and is now available in four versions to cover the different levels of intensity of DIP and the consequent processes in different parts of England and Wales.
The leaflet should be given to every person required to take a drug test after charge or arrest. This is considered important as one aid to engagement and to reducing attrition because:
- it offers a concise “plain English” explanation of the test and what its results mean
- it explains the possible consequences of the test if it is positive, in relation to accessing treatment and to information being passed to courts to inform bail and sentencing decisions
- in all areas it introduces the opportunity for contact with a drug worker, regardless of the outcome of the test, and in “intensive” areas it introduces information about Required Assessment and the consequences of failing to attend appointments
We want to encourage custody suite staff to always give the leaflets to people who are being tested, regardless of whether they are “familiar faces” in the custody process and might have been through the drug testing procedure before.
In previous years, the drug testing policy team at the Home Office has arranged a mail out annual supplies of leaflets to testing sites in March/April. This year, there will not be a proactive mailing because some areas already have stocks left from last year and we want to avoid wastage. We are moving to a “self-ordering” process instead. Sites will therefore need to check their current supplies and order in sufficient supplies to see them through the year (or several months at a time), either by individual site, by OCU, force or via Police Strategic Leads where appropriate.
The four different versions of the drug testing leaflet are included in the new list of DIP communications materials on the website.
Latest key messages
The latest key messages for DIP provide a “core script” to describe the various elements of the programme and the key points that should be understood about them. This can be a useful resource when preparing report, briefings and other publications about DIP and it is reviewed and updated every two months.
