More than £1 million is being invested by the Isle of Wight Council into projects to help people dependent on alcohol and drugs to access much-needed support.
The extra funding is part of the government's 'From harm to hope' national drugs strategy that aims to reduce drug-related death and harm, increase the number of people accessing treatment and improve outcomes for local people.
The investment, which also includes additional funding from the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI), will be made available over the next three years to increase the quality and capacity of existing substance misuse services on the Island.
Councillor Karl Love, Cabinet member for Public Health, said:
"The impact of drug and alcohol dependency on individuals, their families, as well as the wider community, can be devastating.
"Substance misuse - including alcohol misuse - affects the lives, health and relationships of many communities and families.
"This added investment is a real boost for our local substance misuse services and recognition of the invaluable work they do to support people.”
The funding will be used to:
- inspire and encourage people to engage with additional routes to recovery;
- increase the capacity and quality of the council's locally commissioned substance misuse services;
- increase the capacity of important residential rehabilitation provision;
- ensure continued capacity for people who need support with their housing, substance misuse and mental ill-health.
Cllr Love said:
“It is important to remember that substance dependency can affect anyone and can have many cruel effects.
"Dependency changes lives and we can all help support people as they work towards recovery."
On the Island, there is an increasing rate of hospital admissions due to alcohol-related conditions and deaths from drug misuse remain above the national and south-east average.
As a former youth worker specialising in drugs and alcohol education, Councillor Love said thrill-seeking and experimentation posed the greatest risk to young people.
"I have no doubt that cannabis use has increased among young people," he said.
"Cannabis is often a gateway drug that can start people on a dependency route.
"This additional investment will allow more people to get the vital support they need.”
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