County council confirms continued funding for drug and alcohol services

At its meeting on May 20, the Cabinet is to approve plans to use Government funding to strengthen drug and alcohol support services across the county over the next three years.

An additional £5.9 million has been rolled into the Public Health Grant which will allow vital treatment, recovery and prevention services to continue, while responding to growing and increasingly complex need.

The funding will support a wide range of services, including treatment and recovery support for adults, specialist help for people who are rough sleeping, and targeted provision for young people affected by substance misuse. It will also fund employment support to help people in recovery move into work, alongside ongoing harm‑reduction measures such as naloxone provision.

A large proportion of the funding will be used to continue, with variations, the council’s contract with Via Care, who are the adult drug and alcohol provider.

Funding will also be provided to the council’s Youth Support Service to support young people in need of substance misuse support. The Employment and Skills Hub will also receive funding, to help people with substance use issues secure and sustain employment.

By investing the funding across different parts of the system, the council aims to reduce harm, improve outcomes, and help more people move towards long‑term recovery.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Fire, said: “This funding allows us to continue providing essential support for people whose lives are affected by drug and alcohol harm, at a time when the challenges many people face are becoming more complex.

“Effective treatment and recovery services save lives, but they also help families stay together, reduce pressure on health and emergency services, and support safer communities.”