Alcohol strategy debate, House of Commons: what's the future for specialist treatment?

David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate, has secured a Private Member's Debate in the House of Commons Westminster Hall, on 15th May, on the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy (details of timings here; factsheet explaining the House's various sittings here).

This debate comes on the back of his recent Parliamentary Questions about alcohol (and drug) treatment, and a specific query about the alcohol strategy on May 2nd:

Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the review of the (a) alcohol and (b) drugs strategy; and what consultation is taking place in relation to each such strategy.

Mr. Coaker: I have been asked to reply.

The Home Office is leading the cross-Government effort on the development of a new Drug Strategy. The existing, and successful, 10-year strategy runs until March 2008. A consultation document is planned to be issued alongside details of the consultation process in May/June 2007. The intention is to consult interested groups and individuals, including service providers and those affected by drugs—users, families and local communities. Subject to cross-Government agreement, the new strategy is likely to be published in late 2007.

The Home Office and Department of Health are jointly leading a review of the Alcohol Harm Strategy for England 2004 and the development of a new Alcohol Strategy with support from the Department for Education and Skills. A series of detailed discussions have been held with key stakeholders from the health, police, young people's sectors and the alcohol industry to inform the development of the new Alcohol Strategy. The new strategy is due to be launched in summer 2007. A formal consultation is not planned prior to launch, but consultation is likely to be required on implementation of key aspects of the strategy.  Hansard

Coaker's answer about the alcohol strategy certainly ties in with what many colleagues in the alcohol harm reduction field - at least those working at the coalface - say about the lack of consultation for the review process.  It has seemed positively secretive.  Would it not be an idea for the Home Office and DH to talk to the growing band of alcohol strategy coordinators, for example, about how effective or otherwise the national strategy has been at local level, and where the main successes, stumbling blocks and gaps are?

In terms of the new strategy, I hear that the objectives will be around underage drinking, binge drinking and alcohol-related crime.  Perhaps that is why Coaker didn't mention consultation with the treatment sector in his answer. 

Despite ANARP, MOCAM and the Effectiveness Review , the writing seems to be on the wall for specialist alcohol treatment as DH focuses attention on early interventions for hazardous drinkers.  Hence Alcohol Misuse Interventions and the new Commissioning framework for health and well-being.

We will see what comes out of the debate, but the future of specialist treatment needs careful discussion.  We seem to be a long way from providing reasonable levels of prevention and early intervention, and until that point is reached, the case for more specialist treatment is as strong as ever.

Comments

[james morris]

Yes, why aren't alcohol coordinators being consulted- Some strategy user involvement would be nice!

[Adrian Brown]

The actual "debate" seemed to be an opportunity for some MPs to raise their own agendas. Besides a couple of droll anecdotes about drinking culture, one MP actually suggested that being in the EU was promoting easier access to cheap wine and so ... The UK should quit the EU.

Oh dear, there goes "The Point" out through the window, above that MPs head.

There were some very salient points made among the parliamentary wordplay.
More overt consultation ought to be made. And does anyone think they are going to make any actual recommendations ?