February 2012 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 13
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
Advocacy |
The Alliance
an anti-medication movement… Users are often frightened to admit they are on
methadone or are quick to say “I'm coming off”. The stigma is very unhelpful.’
In the absence of clear government guidance, in a number of areas across the
country providers and commissioners seem to be struggling to interpret ‘the
recovery agenda’ as anything other than service rationing, coerced reduction and
detoxification and a new reliance on unfunded self-help groups to provide post
detox support. We do know there are still a significant number of high quality
services where the evidence of what is effective and why it must be followed is
understood and supported. However given the impact of a new performance
management indicator, cuts in funding both for drugs and across the public sector,
and increasing demand for substance use – particularly alcohol service – we think
they will find it hard to keep to those standards, particularly without the support
of organisations like The Alliance.
*****
There is without doubt an increased demand and need for the services of The
Alliance. But we have lost funding over the past two years, and we have recently
had no choice but to make valued staff redundant – the only other option was to
shut down. However we know this is not a situation unique to The Alliance – many
charities and voluntary sector organisations have found themselves in the same
position over the past few months. We have done the same as them – made cuts,
and worked on a plan to help us survive the difficulties, achieve a stable base and
then increase our capacity. Essentially we have to change how we use the limited
resources available to us if we are to deliver the support we believe is essential to a
growing number of fearful and disempowered people.
The Alliance must become a true alliance, supporting and developing local
groups, transferring resources to where they are needed – with service users,
rather than maintaining expensive premises and a salary structure. We will need to
work with volunteers – from both the drugs field and the user movement, making
the most of scarce resources to continue to deliver our helpline and advocacy work.
In future editions of
DDN
we hope to be able to come to you with specific requests
for your input – as we will need your help.
The past 12 months have been a difficult time for us but we have fought and
will continue to fight to meet the need for advocacy, brokerage and information for
those getting the rather grubbier end of the recovery stick. I’m confident it’s a fight
we can win. Because there is a very clear role for The Alliance in the age of recovery
– after all we have been advocating for it for years.
DDN
‘In a number of areas across the
country providers and
commissioners seem to be
struggling to interpret ‘the
recovery agenda’ as anything other
than service rationing, coerced
reduction and detoxification...’
vive