Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Commissioning and Public Health and the Director of Public Health, and to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on the proposed decision to approve the Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy.

Ms J Mookherjee, Consultant in Public Health, was in attendance for this item.

1.            Mr Scott-Clark and Ms Mookherjee introduced the item and explained that the presentation of the Strategy to the new Cabinet Committee was the culmination of much work, previously reported to the Adult Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee, and successful projects.  As the complexity and pattern of drug and alcohol use had changed - for example, regular users of drugs were now in an older age bracket, and health conditions arising from long-term drug use were starting to appear, making treatment more complex - joint working with partners to develop the strategy had increased.  Ms Mookherjee responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following:-

a)    the reduction in drug and alcohol use by children and young people was welcomed, but concern expressed that the temptation of ‘legal highs’ was still a danger among young people. Ms Mookherjee explained that service providers working with young people reported that the general quality of drug education needed to be improved, and that young people knew more about the subject than the adult trying to advise them. It was hoped that a scheme of peer mentors could be established, in which young people could advise other young people about the dangers of substance misuse;

b)    in response to a concern that the price of drugs had reduced, Ms Mookherjee explained that police efforts were focussed on catching suppliers of drugs and disrupting supply;

c)    a view was expressed that users may move away from illegal to legal drugs, which were hopefully better controlled; and

d)    concern was expressed about people starting to use drugs while in prison, how such drugs were being obtained within the prison service and the realistic scope to control this use.  

2.            RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Commissioning and Public Health, to approve the Kent Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2017 – 2022, be endorsed, noting that a full delivery plan will be available in August 2017.