Drugs and alcohol strategy

WQ.239/2020

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY C.S. ALVES OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 30th JUNE 2020

Question

Will the Minister provide an update on the current activity of, and any recent outcomes from, the Drugs and Alcohol Strategy?

Answer

I can confirm that we are currently working to the Building a Safer Society Strategy (BaSS), specifically Strategic Priority 3: To minimise the harm to individuals, families and communities caused by drugs and alcohol'. https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20administration/BaSS%202016%2 0-2019.pdf

The following is a summary of the current activity and recent outcomes from an Alcohol and Drug Service (A&D) perspective based on the objectives which relate to the service:

1. The team has the following established pathways:

- Alcohol Pathway

- Opiate Substitute Treatment

- Arrest Referral

- Needle Exchange and harm reduction

- Young Persons Substance Misuse Worker (YPSMW)

2. The A&D Service has an established multi-disciplinary team – a dedicated Consultant Psychiatrist, Consultant Psychologist and Social Worker (established under BaSS)

3. The A&D Service, through the Alcohol Pathway, runs clinics in GP surgeries and other community clinics (away from traditional A&D location to reduce stigma). Hospital Alcohol Liaison Nurses work from within the Emergency Department and wards in JGH

4. The A&D Service was running a Shelter Clinic at Aztec House (suspended in the last few months)

5. The A&D Service has developed close working relationships with Jersey Probation and After Care Service (JPACS) and the States of Jersey Police Service (SoJPS)

6. Under Strategic Priority 3 the following have been met by A&D service:

Objective 1 – A YPSMW is now in post and works alongside the youth services providing support. The Service provides holistic support for people under the age of 25 who wish to address their dependence or harmful polysubstance misuse.  

Objective 2 – A Court Liaison Officer was in post working from both A&D and JPACS, funded through JPACS. Both agencies looking to review the post, but needs (deferred decisions and Parish Hall enquiries) are temporarily met by A&D

- The A&D Service has an established Opiate substitute programme with dedicated prescribers (Consultant Psychiatrist, sessional GP and Nurse Prescriber) and 4 Substance Misuse Nurses Objective 3 – Needle Exchange and harm reduction workers provide all equipment required by people who inject drugs, including harm reduction advice and overdose prevention advice. They also provide Blood Borne Virus (BBV) advice including offer of testing for BBV through dry blood spot testing. Specific support and information are also given to steroid users. A Specialist BBV Nurse clinic is run from the A&D Service, offering treatments for Hepatitis C, including additional liver screens

- 2 GP prescribers were recruited (although one has since retired) to prescribe for drug users

- the WellWoman and GUM clinic offer contraceptive support to A&D clients. A&D also continues to provide free contraceptives and sexual health advice to service users. Pre-Covid 19, plans were being put in place to develop a sexual health clinic at the A&D Service

Objective 5 – (information covered under objectives 1, 2, 3 above)

 Objective 6 – Specific pathways in place between A&D Service and JPACS for supporting clients on Probation Order Treatment Orders and Binding Over Treatment Orders.

- The Arrest Referral Pathway working within police custody, supporting the Parish Hall s with parish hall enquiries and deferred decisions. The Arrest Referral Pathway also offers support to clients who require psycho-social support drugs like cannabis and cocaine

- A Substance Misuse Worker is now in post at SoJPS, linking in with the A&D Service.