Councillors have agreed to increase funding by 4% to £2.1m a year, to prevent harm caused by drugs and alcohol in Trafford.
Trafford Council’s Public Health budget allocation will be spent helping people with substance misuse problems in the borough – and their families – to get help, over the next three to five years.
The cost of alcohol harm alone in Trafford is estimated at £110.2m or £468 per head in crime, economic, health and social costs, per year.
Yet research shows that every £1 of public money spent on alcohol treatment saves £3 in other ways, such as on hospital stays, ill health, offences, and family issues.
For drug treatment, the return is £4 in the short term. According to statistics, the longer-term savings are £21 to £26 for every £1 spent.
Trafford Council Executive has given the green light to the investment involving Salford City Council as lead commissioner.
Trafford’s Substance Misuse, Alcohol and Gambling Partnership has been working to bring together voluntary organisations, Police, licencing, services for children and others, to prevent addiction and reduce harms. Interventions so far have led to improvements, particularly for young people.
Hopes are to make more progress with older residents, women, those who live alone and people with mental health challenges – as well as working to banish any stigma associated with seeking treatment.
Cllr Jane Slater, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy and Independent Lives, said:
“We are delighted the continuation of this work has been approved. The increase in funding is particularly needed given the increasing costs of treatment and the need to support people in ways that work for them and as early as possible.
“By spending now, we can help more people receive help for substance misuse – and also make substantial savings in the future.
“In the last two years we have seen positive improvements in treatment numbers and outcomes. We want to build on this success and take this important work to the next level.”
Contact details for services to support people in need of support for drugs and alcohol issues are on the Trafford Directory.