WAITING LISTS CUT FOR DRUG ADDICTS

Drug addicts seeking help in Bath have seen waiting lists for treatment
slashed by more than 75 per cent in the past 12 months. Last year the
Chronicle revealed that heroin addicts and other drug users were facing
waits of more than a year for treatment. Now the longest wait is under four
months and many will be offered treatment within seven days.

The drop in waiting times is despite a huge increase in the number of
people getting support to tackle their drug problems.

In Bath and north east Somerset the figure has risen from just over 200 in
1999 to more than 700 people last year.

The Bath and North East Somerset Drug Action Team (DAT) has revealed that
in 2001 people were waiting almost two years for help.

However, the Drugs Homeless Initiative in Milsom Street, which provides day
care centres, outreach workers and home help, confirmed the good news for
drug users in and around the city.

Esther Harris, the structured day care team leader, said: "We offer an
individual and flexible structured day care service which has been designed
to ensure that clients are offered appropriate support soon after
assessment. We anticipate the longest wait for an offer of service is seven
days."

DAT was established in April 1999 to bring together all the key players
which have a role in tackling drug issues, which includes police, council,
primary care trust and the Probation Service.

Before the team was established, the local health authority was responsible
for the treatment of addicts while the police were responsible for the
enforcement of drug laws.

But problems occurred because the two bodies and other organisations did
not always talk to each other. Now DAT is responsible for all of the
substance misuse prevention, education and treatment services.

Ian Keasey, DAT's joint commissioning officer, said: "Part of the reason
for the cut in waiting lists is because there has been considerable
investment in drug and alcohol treatment and part of that has allowed them
to recruit more better qualified staff.

"It's also partly due to the processes which are getting better with better
equipment and allowing them to work indifferently.

"We haven't solved the problem. There is still some work to be done to
reduce waiting times, especially in specialised services where it's someone
who needs more appointments for more complex problems."

But he added DAT hoped to cut waiting times even further and a review of
the services has been under way this year to prepare for new Government
targets.

Mr Keasey added: "This is excellent news because it means we are getting
people into the service quicker and they are having to wait less for
treatment."

New Government figures also showed that the Bath area had a 73 per cent
effectiveness among the clients using its drug treatment service. That is
one of the highest levels in the country.

Dr Kieran Morgan, director of public health for B &NES and a DAT member,
said: "We welcome the progress made to ensure that more people get help
more quickly. But people are still to waiting too long for treatment.

"We have undertaken a major review of all the services and, as a result, we
are working with the local drug treatment services to ensure they are
operating as effectively as possible so people can get help when they need it.

"Our target is to ensure that by the end of next year, no one waits longer
than three weeks to begin getting help."

DAT's chairman Jane Ashman added: "We are pleased at the serious
improvements in waiting times and the numbers of people receiving help."