The Assistant Director of Public Health Board presented a report on behalf of Havering Combating Drugs Partnership (Havering CDP) informing that Havering Council Public Health team launched a consultation on Havering Substance Misuse Strategy 2023-2028.

It was stated that Havering had a similar strategy called Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2016- 19 but due to the Covid pandemic there has been a delay in the revision of the strategy. The Havering CDP strategy is in response to the national drugs strategy thereby renewing the previous Havering Strategy.

It was stated that a new 10- year national drugs strategy called “From harm to hope” plans to cut crime and save lives’ was published by the government in December 2021.

The Board noted that the national strategy was accompanied with a supplementary grant to increase capacity in local treatment system and the grant requires local partnerships to produce a new strategy.

This consultation was in response and the strategy is being developed to renew the previous Havering Strategy.

It was stated that the strategy covers all substances which have the potential for abuse and addiction except tobacco. It also aims to tackle the stigma around addiction to encourage individuals and families who are affected to get support and to minimise community violence towards those with substance-misuse problems.

The draft strategy describes some key findings from the needs assessment which estimated that 1 in 5 adults (around 41,000 people) in Havering drink excessive amount of alcohol and 14,000 16 to 74-year-olds use illicit drugs. Two workshops with local and regional partners and people with live experiences followed by direct communication with delivery partners informed the set of actions in the strategy.

It was noted that substance misuse and addiction affect more than just the person with dependency problems and affect the family and wider community in many ways. Substance misuse can lead to criminal behaviour including domestic violence, assaults, antisocial behaviour, theft and burglaries, sexual exploitation, slavery and gang violence.

This Board was informed that partners in Havering will work together to:

· break drug supply chains;

· deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system;

· achieve a generational shift in the demand for drugs; and

· reduce risk and harm to individuals, families and communities.

There are plans to address the four key areas developed through working with all key stakeholders such as the National Health Service (NHS), drug and alcohol treatment services, voluntary care sector, schools, Police, trading standards, licensing, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), children services, adult services.

The strategy will be implemented over a five-year period commencing from the date of publication and will be reviewed at least annually by the Havering Combating Drugs Partnership and amendments made where necessary. 

The Board was informed that feedback from the consultation and engagement with service users will be incorporated into the final draft. The final draft will undergo an Equality Impact Assessment which will be added onto the final draft. Havering Combating Drugs Partnership will sign off the final draft before submission to Health and Wellbeing Board, Place-based Partnership and Cabinet for noting and approval.

During discussion, members of the board suggested that the consultation be extended to the Safer Neighbourhood Team and its Chairperson to make comments as there have been issue of drug abuse and antisocial behaviour in some areas.

The Director of Strategy & Partnerships Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust responded that the Partnership will contribute to the consultation in as much that the NHS see the result of the issues. Officers were also extended an opportunity to make the presentation at an executive committee meeting and have a debate with the clinical teams.

The Board noted:

·         the presentation content, responded to the consultation plan, suggesting any amendments to the strategy approach, and 

·         agreed that a final draft of the Strategy takes into account consultation responses be received by the Health and Wellbeing Board or the Chair for a final sign off in December

·         to receive the consultation feedback following sign off.