Policy responses and statements
- Name of organisation:
- Department of Health,
Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS)
- Name of policy document:
- Consultation on the New Strategic Direction
for Alcohol & Drugs Phase 2 (2011-2016)
- Deadline for response:
- 31 May 2011
Background: The Department of Health, Social Services & Public
Safety has led the development of the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol & Drugs
Phase 2 2011-2016 (NSD Phase 2). The purpose of this consultation is
to seek views on the revised and updated cross-departmental, cross-sectoral
NSD Phase 2.
NSD Phase 2 provides an opportunity to address a number of issues
which have emerged since the original document was published in 2006,
including:
- emerging drugs of concern/"legal highs";
- encouraging a family approach to addiction and providing support;
- addressing hidden harm (those children born to or living with
substance misusing parents/carers);
- taking a population approach to alcohol, including the role of
alcohol promotions and price;
- links to mental health, suicide, sexual violence and
abuse, and domestic violence;
- the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs;
- promoting recovery (enabling people to reintegrate into society
and eventually overcome their addiction); and
- increased misuse of cocaine
and taking a population approach to alcohol.
COMMENTS ON
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
(DHSSPS)
CONSULTATION ON THE NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR ALCOHOL & DRUGS
PHASE 2 (2011-2016)
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh welcomes the opportunity to respond
to this consultation on behalf of our Fellows and Members in Northern Ireland. The
observations and comments relate largely to misuse of alcohol, leaving the
drug addiction and damage issue to other disciplines for expert views.
Scotland has very similar challenges with regard to excessive consumption
of alcohol, and the College is a founding member of the Scottish Heath Action
on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) which aims to influence public health policy through
raising awareness of the dangers of excessive consumption. Further information
on the work of SHAAP is available at http://www.shaap.org.uk/.
Comments on the consultation questions follow:
Q.1 Do you agree with the approach being proposed by NSD Steering
Group to reviewing, revising and extending the NSD to 2016?
The College believe the alcohol related components of this strategy are embedded
firmly in sound public health principles and should be commended.
Q.3 Do you feel the proposed revised implementation structure
is fit for purpose to deliver the NSD phase 2?
Agreed. Although it may appear a little bureaucratic, it is important
to retain national oversight of the various strands of activity across Northern
Ireland through the Steering Group.
Q.4 Are you aware of any other statistics not included in this
document or the NSD Update Report that would help inform the revision and
extension of the NSD?
Data is provided showing that alcohol consumption estimated by the Continuous
Household Survey has been fairly static since 2002. However, evidence
from Scotland (http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6532.html)
suggests that such surveys underestimate consumption when compared with data
on alcohol sales. Is equivalent data available for Northern Ireland?
Q.9 Are the revised pillars still relevant? Do you agree with
these pillars? Are there any other areas that should be included as a Pillar?
The College believes that the 5 selected pillars are an admirable basis on
which to build the strategy.
Q.11 Do you agree that these are the key emerging issues for
alcohol and drug misuse since the publication of the NSD? Are there
other issues that you feel need to have a stronger emphasis in the NSD Phase
2?
The College supports the proposed extension of the scope of the policy to
include addressing the causes in addition to the effects of excessive alcohol
consumption eg availability and pricing. Any policy that fails to take
account of these important factors will have limited impact only.
Q.12 Do you agree that these should be the key priorities for
the NSD Phase 2? Are there other issues that should be a key priority?
The College supports the priority areas identified.
Copies of this response are available from:
Lesley Lockhart,
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh,
9 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JQ.
Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608
Fax: 0131 220 3939
[30 May 2011]
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