The first allocations of more than £300 million over the next three years to strengthen drug treatment and recovery services in 50 local authority areas have been announced.
The funding is part of the Government’s 10-year drug strategy, which aims to prevent nearly 1,000 drug-related deaths, deliver 54,500 new high-quality treatment places and prevent a quarter of a million crimes.
The additional funding will go towards improving access to drug and alcohol addiction treatment and increasing the capacity of services in local areas with higher levels of drug-related crime and greater pressure on local services.
Cllr Louise Gittins, Vice-Chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “This funding is an important step forward in helping to support councils in addressing drug dependency in their local communities and is something the LGA has long been calling for.
“People with drug and alcohol problems should be able to get the right support and treatment when they need it.
“For many problem users, their first experience of treatment is the catalyst for getting the help they need to address their physical and mental health problems.
“Councils want to see vulnerable people being given another chance to find work, rebuild relationships and find safe and secure accommodation, and will work with partners to improve the life chances of those impacted by drug addiction.”