What Are Drug Action Teams?
Introduction
A Drug Action Team (DAT), also sometimes know as a Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) is a local partnership which comprises the main agencies involved in tackling drugs and alcohol misuse. They operate on a borough wide basis and although membership can vary, it often includes the local authority, education service, the primary care trust, social services, health authorities, police and housing services.
The Government's National Drug Strategy
DAT's are responsible for implementing the Government's national drug strategy, 'Building A Better Britan' which is a 10 year plan that was produced in 1998. In 2002 it was updated to incorporate lessons from the previous four years and to place more emphasis on the most dangerous drugs and the most damaged communities and individuals.
The National Drug Strategy includes 4 overlapping themes of work:
- Treatment - providing appropriate and timely treatment for all those who need it
- Young People - education, diversion and prevention to reduce the number of young people using drugs
- Communities - strengthening communities to resist harms from drug use
- Availabilities - reducing the amount of drugs available within communities and tackling drug supply
Nationally, the development of drug treatment services are overseen by the National Treatment Agency (NTA) but each local partnership is responsible for producing a local drug treatment plan for their area based on the national strategy.
Funding
Central government money for drug treatment services is allocated via the Pooled Treatment Budget (PTB) which combines money from the Home Office and Department of Health. This is distributed via the DAT's who have the responsibility of allocating resources and commissioning services. This includes Drug Intervention Programmes and in 2006/7 the budget is £384.6m for the whole of the UK.
Where DAT's have incorporated services that deliver the National Alcohol Strategy to become DAAT's, the money for drug treatment work is ringfenced and cannot be pooled for spending on alcohol misuse work.
Allocations to the 194 DAT's are made on a formula basis that recognises key deprivation factors, ensuring the money goes to the areas most in need. This money is supplemented by mainstream funds which come from the local organisations that make up the DAT.
Working closely with Crime Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP's)
Since 2003 many DAT's in London have merged or formalised a close working relationship with CDRP's which are partnerships that have responsibility for tackling crime and disorder, including anti-social behaviour. The aim is to simplify local working relationships, give greater recognition to common interests and provide the right framework to enable the more effective delivery of the crime reduction and drugs agendas.
In London both DAT's and CDRP;s are overseen by the Government Office for London (GOL) which reviews the partnerships on a quarterly basis. In the case of DAT's, GOL works with the NTA to measure performance against key indicators, that are closely related to the four key themes of the National Drug Strategy.
Resources
- DAT Directory
Contact details for each of London's DAAT's
www.drugs.gov.uk/dat/directory/ - Adult Drug Treatment Plans for London Borough's
www.nta.nhs.uk/ - Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain
The Government's 10 year plan for tackling drug misuse, published in 1998.
www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/ - Update Drug Strategy 2002
www.drugs.gov.uk/ - Government Office for London
The capital's regional authority that has overall responsibility for the DAAT's and provides a link to central government.
www.gos.gov.uk/gol/ - Home Office
The latest news and information on DAAT's from central government including
guidance for local partnerships and practioners.
www.drugs.gov.uk/dat/
Advisory Service
London Action Trust
88 Clapham Road
London, SW9 0JR
Tel 020 7793 3730
Fax 020 7820 3577
Email csas@lat.org.uk
Registered in England No. 2897056 Charity No. 1039534
© London Action Trust 2007
Funded by