From: "John Reynolds" To: "Lolworth Parish Council" ; "Irish Nick-Dry Drayton" ; "Girton Website" ; "Girton Parish News" ; "Girton Parish Council" ; "Dry Drayton Website" ; "Dry Drayton News" ; "Binnie Harvey-Boxworth" ; "Bar Hill website" ; "Bar Hill News" ; "Bar Hill Parish Council" Subject: New adult drug treatment services Date: 18 January 2008 18:42 SEA CHANGE TO DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust have agreed a new contract with the country's largest drug and alcohol treatment charity, which will bring a sea change to provision in the county. Following a comprehensive review of services and a competitive tendering exercise, Addaction has been appointed to provide all adult based drug treatment services in the county for the next three years at a cost of around £3.5 million annually. Addaction was formed in 1967 and over the last 40 years the charity has grown to become the largest specialist drug and alcohol treatment agency in the UK. Drug treatment services in Cambridgeshire are commissioned by the County Council and the Cambridgeshire PCT via the Cambridgeshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) using a combination of government and PCT funding. DAAT Chairman Gordon Jeyes, who is also the County Council's Interim Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted that we have secured the services of Addaction which is the country's leading provider of drug and alcohol treatment services. They are a highly respected organisation and I believe they will bring a sea-change to services in Cambridgeshire. "I believe Addaction can introduce new approaches which will provide high quality services across Cambridgeshire which reflect the needs of the local communities." Addaction will begin providing services from April 1. John Ellis, Head of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Substance Misuse Commissioning, Cambridgeshire NHS Primary Cares Trust, said: "We believe this new way of delivering drug and alcohol treatments will give better access and improve health outcomes for service users - especially those in rural areas of the county who previously had greater difficulty accessing services. Working together with the County Council we have developed an effective and modern care pathway and we are very pleased to be able to appoint Addaction to run this important service." Addaction Director of Operations Richard McKendrick, said: "The impact of drug addiction is felt not just by drug users, but by their families and the communities they live in. Our experience is that by listening closely to the needs of the people we work with and those who care for them, we can offer services which will make a real difference to local communities. We are excited to be starting these new services for Cambridgeshire." Addaction will be providing a whole system approach for all adult drug treatment services in communities across Cambridgeshire. Addaction will be treating around 1,500 adults a year using a variety of s> tructured treatment options including counselling, structured day care and specialist community prescribing which will include developing a shared care model with local GP services. The aim is to provide effective services and programmes which will significantly reduce harm, improve health and promote a drug free lifestyle. Addaction has a track record of innovative services which are responsive to the needs of not only those who abuse drugs but also their families and the community. Getting off drugs is a hard process and Addaction will bring all of their experience to bear in creating a seamless service in Cambridgeshire. John Reynolds