Democracy Spraffa

b. ADP strategy refresh 2023_v2

Argyll and Bute Council · 31 May 2023
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 31 May 2023 and its agenda

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Argyll & Bute Alcohol and Drug
Partnership 
Alcohol and Drug strategy refresh: priorities
for 2023

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Background
The Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) works in partnership to prevent and support recovery from the harmful use of alcohol
and drugs.  The partnership is made up of NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute Council, Police Scotland and a range of third sector organisations, and
is supported by a team to assist the ADP in meeting its responsibilities set out in the ‘Alcohol and Drug Partnerships: delivery framework’
(Scottish Government, 2019).  
The Alcohol and Drug Partnership work and actions align to the current ‘Alcohol and Drug Strategy and Action Plan 2020 – 2023’, which was
developed following engagement with communities/partners and in the context of national strategy.  Changes in national strategy since 2022
necessitate a refresh of the local priorities, to ensure Argyll and Bute are implementing best practice and meeting the needs of the population. 
In January 2021, the Scottish Government announced the National Drugs Mission Plan (2022-2026) to reduce drug deaths and harms.  The plan
builds upon Rights, Respect and Recovery (2018), Scotland’s alcohol and drug strategy and includes the Medication Assisted Treatment
Standards (MAT); evidence-based standards to enable the consistent delivery of safe, accessible, high-quality drug treatment across Scotland. 
It is therefore appropriate that as we enter the final year of the current strategy, we review and refresh the priorities and begin work to
develop our next strategy, so that we can continue to build an Argyll and Bute where the harms of alcohol and drugs are reduced, and people
are supported to recover.  
ADP strategy 2020-2023 Vision
Argyll and Bute is an area where “we live long, healthy and active lives regardless of where we come from”
and where individuals, families and communities:
 have the right to health and a life free from the harms of alcohol and drugs
 are treated with dignity and respect
 are fully supported within communities to find their own type of recovery

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Strategy refresh: priorities for 2023
A strategy refresh day was held in Arrochar, Argyll and Bute on 14th February 2023, and 40 people attended from a range of partner
organisations including people with lived experience.  The aims and objectives of the day were to begin reviewing the achievements and
priorities, strategy progress, and identify the top priorities for the remaining year of the current strategy, to ensure that we are still meeting
the needs of communities.  The identified priorities for 2023 are listed in the below tables, under the existing four pillars of the 2020-2023
strategy, which are:
 Prevention and early intervention
 Developing Recovery Oriented Systems of Care
 Getting it Right for Everybody
 Public Health Approach to Justice
The pillars also closely align with the priorities of the Argyll and Bute HSCP Joint Strategic Plan 2022-2025, which are:
 Choice and control and innovation
 Prevention, early intervention, and enablement
 Community Coproduction
 Living Well and active citizenship
Along with the priorities, attendees from the strategy day proposed the following recommendations:
1. Consideration of a subgroup to be identified to progress each pillar of work, with an accompanying action plan.
2. Consideration of a subgroup to be identified to review data and measurement; to collate what information is available and how we
measure outcomes/progress.
3. The draft strategy refresh to be presented to the ADP and Argyll and Bute HSCP Strategic Planning Group for further engagement
and as part of governance structure.

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Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Strategy Refresh: priorities for 2023

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Prevention and Early Intervention
Priority Action/outcome Partners
1. Work with partners and communities
across Argyll & Bute to make prevention
and diversionary activities available (for
all age groups), build awareness and
resilience aimed at reducing harm and
improve life choices. 
People participate in activities that divert them
from harmful use of alcohol and/or drugs. For
this 2023 refresh, a particular gap in support was
identified for older men.
• Community Learning 
• Recovery groups/communities
• Living Well Networks
2. Ensure access to a range of support
services including specialist drug and
alcohol support for under 25s. 
Under 25s have access to early intervention and
specialist drug and alcohol services at an early
stage and young people identify positive
outcomes from service interventions.   
Develop a revised approach for children and
young people’s support 
• ADP Support Team 
• Education Department 
• Contracting Team 
• Internal & External service providers
• Service users 
3. Challenge stigma through education for
everyone  
Education and training around stigma is
developed and rolled out to staff across Argyll &
Bute (including HSCP and partner organisation
staff). 
• Service providers 
• Training providers 
• ADP Support Team 
• Recovery Communities 
• Education Department 
• Service Providers 
• Service Users

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Developing Recovery Oriented Systems of Care
Priority Action/outcome Partners
1. Build on A&B ROSC work to ensure a
robust and working Recovery Oriented
System of Care 
Argyll & Bute have a model for supporting
recovery across a range of identified needs 
Multiagency training is available to services 
MAT standards are implemented within Cowal
and Bute, using a test of change to evaluate how
the standards can be implemented across Argyll
and Bute (see appendix 1) 
Continue to increase access to residential
rehabilitation. 
Continue to develop community hubs
throughout Argyll and Bute.
• Service Providers 
• Service Users
• ADP Support team
2. Involve people with lived and living
experience, families and carers in all
aspects of the planning, delivery and
evaluation of drug and alcohol service
provision
People with lived and living experience, families
and carers are supported to organise and
develop collective and individual voices, and
are present as equal partners in service
planning  
• Service Providers 
• Service Users
• ADP Support team
• Recovery Communities 
Getting it Right for Everybody
Priority Action/outcome Partners
1. Take forward recommendations from
needs assessment relating to young
people and families (include mental
health, relationships and stress) 
Ensure recommendations from needs assessment
are considered, such that early intervention and
support services, focused on drugs, alcohol,
mental health, relationships and stress, are
developed. 
• Service Providers 
• Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol
• ADP Support team
• Education

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Services and supports (including family and
recovery groups) are planned, adapted and
developed based on research 
Initiate the whole family approach strategy. 
2. Strengthen links between drug and
alcohol recovery services, Children &
Families, Adult Protection Services and
Maternity Service (including supporting
child and Adult Protection Services
processes)
Services plan and deliver in partnership 
People and families receive integrated support
from a range of providers aimed at supporting and
protecting all   
Scope inclusion of housing needs within above to
make sure we are meeting need. 
• Service Providers 
• Service Users
• ADP Support team
• Children and Families
• Adult Protection Services
• Maternity Services 
Public Health Approach to Justice
Priority Action/outcome Partners
1. Improve Arrest Referral pathways from
Police Scotland custody into appropriate
treatment and support across Argyll &
Bute. 
A range of service providers work in partnership
to establish working pathways across Argyll &
Bute 
People in Argyll & Bute are able to move smoothly
from police custody into treatment/support
services
• Police Scotland  
• Service Providers 
• Community Justice Implementation Group  
• Police Scotland 
•  Service Providers
2. Ensure that all appropriate partners are
trained and able to provide Naloxone at
point of liberation.   
Increased availability of Naloxone across Argyll &
Bute with particular emphasis on those liberated
from prison 
Reduction in drug related deaths and near
misses amongst those recently liberated from
prison 
• Justice Partnership  
• Service Providers 
• Community Pharmacies
• Harm-reduction nurse

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3. Work with partners and communities
across Argyll & Bute to reduce alcohol-
and drug-related violence and crime,
through a combination of enforcing
legislation, prevention work and early
intervention activity. 
Reduction in alcohol related violence and crime.  • Police Scotland 
• Public Health 
• Community Learning 
Appendix 1. Medication Assisted Treatment Implementation Support Team (MIST) Project in Cowal and Bute
As part of the Scottish Government’s National Mission to reduce drug related deaths and harms they introduced the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Standards for Scotland in May 2021. The National MIST Team was established to support the implementation of the MAT Standards within each ADP area.
Each area was then invited to apply for funding to support the implementation of a local plan to deliver the required changes at a local level that would
reduce drug deaths and harms. Argyll & Bute developed a partnership proposal led by the drug and alcohol service providers We Are With You (WAWY) and
Argyll & Bute Addiction Team (ABAT) in conjunction with Pharmacy Lead, Lomond & Argyll Advocacy Service and the Alcohol & Drug Partnership ADP
Support Team. 
Funding was successfully secured to support the implementation of the partnership programme in the Cowal and Bute area aimed at reducing drug related
deaths and harms across the next four years. The service will cover all 10 MAT standards through the creation of a co-located, multidisciplinary team which
offers services 7 days per week. They will use Assertive Engagement Officers to target the most vulnerable including those who have experienced near fatal
overdose or are currently in custody/prison. Through the nursing and Specialist Pharmacy staff the service will aim to offer same day access to prescriptions
with treatment options and a wide range of services based on the different disciplines, qualifications and experience each partner agency brings to the
service. This approach will ensure that those with dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health issues are seen by the appropriate partner agency as part of
a person-centred, trauma informed approach rather than in a linear fashion. A partnership approach with Primary Care services will be encouraged and
developed. The service will use an in-reach approach that provides wrap around care aimed at maintaining contact with individuals, even when
appointments are missed, through outreach, home visits and drop-in services. This will allow people to remain in services for as long as possible. Lomond
and Argyll Advocacy Services (LAAS) will provide advocacy to each individual across a range of issues including housing, health care and income.