Sir, The claim by Melanie Reid that 150,000 people are employed in drug action teams (“Say no, no, no to the rehab industry”, Oct 3) is extraordinary. The total figure, across 149 local authorities in England, is closer to 1,200. These teams identify and coordinate the response to local need around drug problems. This includes not only treatment, but education, community safety and policing initiatives. Of course, there are also about 11,000 workers in drug treatment services. Many of these are delivering abstinence-based services, some working in maintenance programmes. So in total, across a broad breadth of activities we employ something less than 10 per cent of the numbers suggested.

Quite rightly there is a continuing debate about how we can improve what we do and achieve most with the money available. But it would be remiss not to highlight that recent evidence shows that the overall prevalence of drug use is stable or dropping and that there is a growing understanding of what actions produce the best results. Progress has been achieved in ensuring access to treatment and support — and indeed in limiting the transmission of blood-borne viruses.

The London Drug Policy Forum has long worked to highlight the importance of the factors that aid and support recovery. This is not just about “treatment” but housing, education, training and employment, subjects the article was silent on. Different forms of treatment work for different people at different times in their lives. It is not uncommon for people to have had experience of both maintenance and abstinence treatment programmes. A one-size- fits-all approach is never going to be appropriate. Nor am I aware of any credible research that demonstrates the superiority of one particular approach, as indicated in this piece, in terms of positive outcomes for the individual, their families or communities.

Our responses to drug problems need to be flexible enough to respond to a wide range of problems and situations. Drug use unquestionably damages lives and we need to help people to recover and to have as fulfilling a life as possible. We need to recognise that much of this work goes far beyond treatment and includes supporting communities and families as well as those with a drug problem. This is exactly the kind of work many drug action teams are involved in

It is only right that we as a society debate how best to achieve the goal of helping all those affected by drug problems, but this will not be served by polemic articles.

Maureen Kellett

Chairman of the London Drug

Policy Forum

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