Published: Monday, 1st February, 2010 1:24pm

Joining forces to tackle drug misuse

Print | Email

The newly formed East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership welcomed the Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing, to the Burns Monument Centre to hear how agencies in East Ayrshire have refocused their joint working relationships in order to tackle the impact of Alcohol & Drug misuse on individuals, families and the wider community.

Membership of the Alcohol and Drug Partnership includes representation from East Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Strathclyde Police, HMP Bowhouse, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, The Scottish Children's Reporter's Agency and the District Procurator Fiscal's Office.

The Alcohol and Drugs Partnership was joined for the Minister's visit by Cllr Drew Filson, Chairperson of the Community Health Partnership Committee, Cllr Douglas Reid, Chairperson of the Community Planning Partnership, Cllr John MacKay, Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and MSP for Kilmarnock and Loudon, Willie Coffey.

The Minister heard that the East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership has identified key outcomes relating to drugs and alcohol misuse, which relate directly to our communities and will be reported through the East Ayrshire Single Outcome Agreement. He also learned how a range of activities including advice and education being provided within schools and street activity programmes are being delivered in the community. These all contribute towards informing and supporting young people, helping them to understand and recognize the risks associated with alcohol and drug misuse. Discussions also centred on the issues faced by vulnerable children and adults living with substance misusers or being targeted by them.

The Minister subsequently attended at the premises of Turning Point, an independent sector organization commissioned by East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and NHS Ayrshire and Arran to provide community support services. There he met with local staff, people who used services and their families. "I was pleased to see at first hand the excellent progress East Ayrshire ADP have made in their first few months. We now have the right drugs strategy, right framework and record levels of funding in place but we all need to work together to achieve the results to improve the lives of people affected by drug and alcohol misuse.

Commenting on his visit , Fergus Ewing said "Local people are best placed to understand the needs of their own community and I was interested to hear East Ayrshire ADP's strategy for helping people on their road to recovery.

"Working in partnership with ADPs and Cosla, the Scottish Government are determined to deliver real benefits for people suffering from drug and alcohol misuse."

Cllr Drew Filson stated, "We are all delighted to have had the Minister in the Burns Monument Centre, particularly on Burns' birthday. Mr Ewing was keen to learn about how the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership is operating in East Ayrshire and was impressed with some of the activities taking place locally. We are all aware of the significant impact addiction has on individuals, their families and on our communities and we know that the way to address these challenges are together in partnership. I believe we were able to demonstrate to the minister that we are already making good progress and have the commitment to continue to develop towards positive outcomes".