The Drug and Alcohol Team of the Safer Gateshead partnership are responsible for ensuring the delivery of the drug strategy at a local level.
The Drug and Alcohol Team ensures that the work of local agencies is brought together effectively and that cross-agency projects are co-ordinated successfully.
Safer Gateshead takes strategic decisions on expenditure and service delivery within four aims of the National Drugs Strategy:
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To prevent today's young people from becoming tomorrow's problematic drug users;
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To reduce the supply of illegal drugs;
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To reduce drug-related crime and its impact on communities;
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To increase the number of individuals accessing effective drug treatment.
Responsibilities include:
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Commissioning of services, including supporting structures;
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Monitoring and reporting on performance;
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Communicating plans, activities and performance to stakeholders;
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Translating national policy into local actions.
The Drug and Alcohol team is also responsible for the development of the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy and Action Plan.
The four priorities within the Gateshead Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy are:
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Improving health and treatment services – People with alcohol problems affecting their health and social function will be treated through effective identification and commissioning of services.
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Working with the alcohol industry – Responsible drinking will be promoted and under age sales tackled through closer working with the alcohol industry.
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Combating alcohol related crime and disorder – A reduction in alcohol related crime and disorder.
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Ensuring better education and communication – Individuals will be able to make informed choices about their alcohol use through access to accurate and balanced information.