Challenges in Implementing National Drugs Strategy

The National Drugs Strategy is falling short of its commitments to communities, with key decisions being centralized at Dept. of Health and HSE. Funding for local services remains stagnant, while the capacity to meet local needs is undermined. Interagency partnerships and Community Drug Projects are facing serious challenges in their roles, pointing to critical issues in the current approach to drug strategies.

• National Drugs Strategy
• Communities
• Funding
• Interagency Partnerships
• Community Drug Projects

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Uploaded on Feb 21, 2025 | 0 Views

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Presentation Transcript

1. The National Drugs Strategy is failing to deliver on The National Drugs Strategy is failing to deliver on its commitment to communities its commitment to communities CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

2. So Where are We Now? Communities are not involved in structures that make key decisions Key decisions are being made by Dept. of Health and HSE DATFs are being viewed by Dept. as HSE structures Community Drug Projects are being increasingly viewed as HSE projects Other Statutory Agencies leading on NDS actions are making their own decisions CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

3. Funding to deliver local services Core DATF budgets remain at level reached after 7 years of cuts Additional funding allocated in line with HSE National Service Plan Increase in HSE budget each year No increase in DATF core budgets Once off funding for new pieces of work in 2018 3 year funding for new pieces of cross Task Force work in 2019 CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

4. Capacity to Respond to local needs Capacity of DATF to meet local need is being undermined Centralised application process for new funding Increasing focus on implementing HSE plan and less on DATF plan Role is to co-ordinate implementation of NDS this is across 50 actions in the context of the needs of the region/local area Collective responsibility of all DATF members for DATF actions is being undermined CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

5. Interagency partnership in responding to local needs Core role of DATF as an interagency partnership is being undermined DATFs now to be treated by Dept. as projects, and not as interagency bodies In effect, this means treating DATFs as HSE projects Implications for role of other statutory agencies and partners CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

6. Role of Community Drug Projects Serious challenges facing Community Drug Projects in carrying out their role Reviews of DATF projects by HSE/ DATF Requirements of HSE reflected in reviews and not requirement for integrated approach Shift to programme based approaches and away from community development approach No ongoing discussion on how to evaluate the work of Community Drug Projects CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

7. Direction for the future? Key Decisions about the future direction of DATFs and Community Drug Projects are now being made Work on Performance Measurement being carried out by a Technical Advisory Group - DOH/DPU, HSE/Health Intelligence and HRB officials Report for DPU says What we are measuring is the combined impact of the interventions that are undertaken locally, embracing all actors engaged in tackling problem substance misuse and reducing its negative effects. Performance measurement system will not be measuring a community interagency partnership approach Dept. will be looking at regional priorities in line with Slainte care CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE

8. Communities have knowledge, experience, understanding, expertise, creativity and commitment. CITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN WEB: WWW.CITYWIDE.IE