Agenda item - Reducing Harms from Drugs & Alcohol: a Drugs & Alcohol Strategy 2024-2030

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached).

11.1    This item was introduced by Caroline Vass, Brighton & Hove Director of Public Health. Also attending were Ian Dunster, Director at Change, Live, Grow (CLG); Fran Piccoletti, Public Health Programme Manager, Alcohol & Drugs; and Adam Muirhead, CVS.

11.2    Ms Vass outlined the priorities in the new Drugs & Alcohol Strategy.

11.3    Stephen Lightfoot asked what the barriers to integrated working are. Ms Vass responded that better integration needs active engagement from partners. All partners are committed, but this is something that will take time to develop. Also, personnel changes can impact the progress of integration.

11.4    Alan Boyd noted that there was limited engagement with some communities in developing the strategy. Ms Vass agreed that the response from some communities, such as Black and Racially Minoritised people, was disappointing. However, these groups were specifically targeted. Ms Piccoletti noted that services are in fact getting much better at engaging with BRM communities, with engagement rates getting closer to the demographic average than they used to be. Mr Muirhead added that there are a number of exciting plans to engage with young people.

11.5    Tanya Brown-Griffith asked about how the strategy links to suicide prevention work. Ms Vass responded that the strategy has been informed by the 2024 Drugs Death audit and has fed into the ongoing suicide audit.

11.6    The Chair asked a question about engagement with religious communities. Ms Piccoletti replied that this is an area of focus, although there are challenges in identifying sufficiently culturally competent workers.

11.7    RESOLVED – that the Board:

·       notes the ‘Reducing Harms from Drugs and Alcohol’ a Drugs and Alcohol Strategy 2024-2030’

·       supports the approach that the Strategy is best delivered in partnership with the multi-agency Combatting Drugs Partnership Board, and that this Board retains oversight to the effective implementation and monitoring of the strategic aims and action planning to deliver the strategy aims.