A Drugs Stakeholder Group chaired by the Department was set up in May 2013 to inform and advise on the delivery of the drugs rehabilitation response within CE. Membership includes representatives of the community and voluntary sectors, Drugs Task Forces and statutory organisations. A new Programme Framework is currently being developed for drug rehabilitation schemes. The Framework is focused on facilitating the participation of vulnerable adults who are very distant from the labour market and who need special supports. Participants will have access to multiple supports and specialist inputs from social, education and health mainstream services as part of the programme offered under CE.
Under the National Drugs Strategy (NDS), it is also recognised that the response to substance misuse is a cross-cutting issue. No single agency has the range of competencies or expertise to provide all the supports needed to assist drug users to complete their rehabilitation. The 2007 Working Group’s Report on Rehabilitation highlights the role of CE in relation to the recovery needs of participants in drug rehabilitation. It recommends that the impact of CE should be built upon by the complimentary support of the HSE, the Department of Education and Science and relevant agencies that play a key role in the overall integrated response to this client group in terms of rehabilitation.
The Framework is nearing completion and will greatly improve supports to the 1,000 drug rehabilitation places ring-fenced on CE. The Department intends to monitor the implementation of this new Framework and review the lessons of the implementation and good practice.
