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Improving outcomes for service users with complex needs is top of the agenda for a new partnership of charities working around social exclusion.

Homeless Link, Clinks, DrugScope and Mind are working together to promote and influence public debate on supporting users who don't fit easily into conventional treatment patterns, starting with an event the charities are hosting on 2nd December in central London.

The 'Making Every Adult Matter' conference is an opportunity for service providers and clients from across the substance misuse, criminal justice, homelessness and mental health sectors to work towards improving outcomes for adult service users. Confirmed speakers and contributors include Mark Easton (BBC Home Affairs Editor), Lord Victor Adebowale (Chief Executive, Turning Point), Julian Corner (Home Office) and Naomi Eisenstadt CB (Social Exclusion Taskforce).

The one-day event will focus on a range of topics including:
• our understanding of the prevalence of complex need and its impact on service provision
• the main barriers clients face when accessing services and possible solutions to overcoming them
• what is working and what is not
• the relationship between national policy initiatives and local practice experience
• what we can do, collectively and individually, to get to grips with complex need

In addition to plenary and panel debate sessions, ‘Making Every Adult Matter' will also offer a series of seminars where attendees can share their experiences and help shape the agenda in six key policy areas including ‘stigma and discrimination', ‘personalisation and care planning' and ‘recovery and social reintegration'. In a session focused on personal stories of recovery, delegates will also have the opportunity to hear directly from and place questions to service users with an experience of social exclusion.

The conference marks the beginning of Homeless Link, Clinks, DrugScope and Mind's collective work to promote a common language between their respective sectors. Through developing a cohesive analysis and collective action on common issues, the partnership is looking to engage more powerfully with government ahead of the next election, driving positive developments in policy and practice.

'Making Every Adult Matter' will take place at CCT Venues Smithfield in London on 2nd December.

EMCDDA Director comments on new report launch

'Although drug use levels remain historically high, we appear to be entering a more stable phase', said EMCDDA Director Wolfgang Götz, in his message launching the Annual report 2008: the state of the drugs problem in Europe.

'Overall, for most forms of consumption, we are not seeing major increases, and, in some areas, trends appear to be downwards'. The report illustrates, for example, how indicators for amphetamine and ecstasy use suggest an overall steady or declining situation. And, in the most recent data, there are stronger signals that cannabis use is stabilising or decreasing in some countries among young people.

'While it is important to acknowledge these positive developments, we must also remember that the dynamic nature of the drug problem presents us with ongoing concerns and future challenges', added the Director.
Highlighted in the report are: warning signs over heroin; continuing increases in cocaine use; high rates of drug-related deaths; and reports of diversion and illicit production of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. Special attention is also given to the potential risk of drug use problems among vulnerable young people in a review published alongside the report.

'It is gratifying to note that, by international standards, Europe now stands out as one of the parts of the world where drug monitoring capacities are most developed', said Mr Götz. 'Nevertheless, we remain fully committed to further improving the quality and relevance of the available data, in order to better inform policymaking and practice across the EU'.

Article published on 25/11/2008 by DryOutNow.com

DryOutNow.com provides highly practical help for people with alcohol problems, their friends and relatives. DryOutNow.com also provides free resources for healthcare professionals such as medical information and alcohol treatment guidelines.

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