Spectacular drugs team praised

SOME of the work being done by Warrington’s Drug Action Team is “nothing short of spectacular” – according to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.
The agency recently carried out a review of the adult and young person’s substance misuse treatment systems available in the Warrington area as part of its annual inspection.
They noted significant progress and great improvements.
They found there were now more opportunities for local people to access drug treatment services and the budget was being spent efficiently and effectively showing real value for money.
Data sharing had improved immensely around drug treatment and services were working well together.
There were greater links with other council services and partners and the being done with vulnerable and hard to reach populations was innovative and enlightening, particularly among the homeless community
Some of the work was nothing short of spectacular, they said.
Cathy Fitzgerald, local Drug Action Team co-ordinator said: “Throughout 2009 all partners worked extremely hard together to bring about real and meaningful change both in terms of performance and service delivery in Warrington, particularly in the provision of treatments for adults.
“In 2010 we will be turning our collective attention to developing the range of services we offer for young people.”
The local Drug Action Team is a partnership between the borough council, police, probation service, NHS Warrington and others.
More details are available at www.warrington.gov.uk/drugs