Why HMPPS is moving towards Recovery-Oriented Systems to tackle drug and alcohol use
Mike Wheatley talks us through what this means for HMPPS and our partners and invites you to register for our exciting panel event on 5th March with Keynote Speaker Professor David Best Ph.d., which delves deeper into the issues and supporting evidence.
Mike Wheatley
Head of Drug and Alcohol Group,
HMPPS
Join Mike Wheatley, Head of the Drug and Alcohol Group at HMPPS, Keynote Speaker Professor David Best, Ph.d. and an expert panel of Prison and Probation Recovery, Heath and Justice, and Lived Experience leads to learn how HMPPS is transforming its approach to tackling drug and alcohol use within the criminal justice system.
Discover how a recovery-oriented system of care offers a comprehensive, person-centred, and sustainable way to address drug and problematic alcohol use, supporting individuals to build meaningful, healthy lives while reducing reoffending and harm to society.
Addressing drug and problematic alcohol use in criminal justice
In HMPPS our ambition is to build and implement a recovery-oriented system of care because it offers a more holistic, effective and sustainable approach to addressing drug and alcohol use within the criminal justice system
Drug and alcohol use within the criminal justice system in England and Wales presents a complex and significant challenge, impacting individuals and society at large. Drug and alcohol use contributes significantly to criminal behaviour influencing imprisonment and probation supervision rates as well as affecting rehabilitation efforts.
In the year ending March 2024, about 1.46 million people were processed through the criminal justice system in England and Wales, a 6% increase on the previous year. A substantial portion were linked to drug and alcohol related offences. The link between drug and alcohol use and criminal activity is well established. Addressing the root causes of these behaviours can reduce reoffending.
Dame Carol Black in a recent independent review of drug treatment estimated that approximately one-third of prison places were occupied by people with serious drug addictions.
Determining the exact number of people on probation in England and Wales with a drug and or alcohol problem is challenging due to limited publicly available data. People given a community sentence with an Alcohol Treatment Requirement or Drug Rehabilitation Requirement is increasing.
Addressing drug and alcohol use requires an integrated and balanced approach including effective prevention, treatment, and recovery support systems both within custody and community settings.
Recovering from drug and problematic alcohol use
A recovery-oriented system of care focuses on long-term recovery rather than a short-term abstinence. What a person needs to support them in recovery is not very different from what every person needs to feel healthy and safe, such as meaningful activity, having friends and family that support you and living in a secure home. To overcome problem alcohol and drug use, people need to address their alcohol and drug use and create a life that is no longer built around it. To support people to do this, we need to develop and support cultures of recovery that provide alternative communities and activities that can offer lifelong support.
Recovery has a positive effect on individual people and those closest to them. It also has a positive impact on society. A UK survey of addiction recovery experiences found this includes reduced pressures on health, social and justice services and improved productivity (Best and others, 2015). Recovery is not only about stopping problem drug and alcohol use and other behaviour, but also about wellbeing and making a positive contribution to society.
Key components of a recovery-oriented system of care
- personalised treatment tailored to individual needs including medication assisted therapy, detoxification and talking therapies
- peer recovery support to provide relatable guidance and mentorship
- collaboration across services integrating health, housing, employment and social services
- aftercare and community reintegration ensuring support continues after prison and whilst on supervision to maintain stability and promote recovery
Why and how HMPPS is moving towards a Recovery Oriented Systems of Care approach.
To achieve transformative results, we must embrace innovative approaches. A public health perspective, combined with a recovery-oriented system of care, has proven effective in addressing drug and alcohol challenges.
The new HMPPS Drug and Alcohol operational framework which was launched internally on 28th January, builds on these concepts, emphasising that success demands the collective effort of leaders, managers, staff, and all stakeholders within the criminal justice system. By adopting this framework, HMPPS is committing to a path of continuous improvement, where we learn from what has worked elsewhere and apply these lessons to our unique context.
What will this look like?
The framework promotes a shift to a more rehabilitative, recovery focused response to individuals within the criminal justice system who use drugs and alcohol, whilst remaining vigilant to managing the risks associated with their use and supply.
Staff working in prisons and probation need to balance a risk based and therapeutic approach when working with people who use drugs and alcohol. This means working in a way that promotes and supports recovery, while also managing the safety and security risks associated with drug and alcohol use.
This is not just about developing policy, but a change in mindset, recognising to make a real difference, we must work together with partners in new and collaborative ways, for example probation working with police, courts and NHS liaison and diversion services, and prisons working with NHS E Treatment providers and the NHS Reconnect to support release into the community alongside wider rehabilitative support services.