THE ISLE of Wight Council’s drug action team are staging their annual stakeholder event this week to highlight issues surrounding drug misuse on the Island.
The police, health professionals, the prison service and voluntary groups have been invited to the annual conference which takes place this Thursday (Nov 29).
The event will focuss on the good progress that has been made on the Isle of Wight to provide accessible treatment and support for people who misuse drugs.
It will also re-launch the mulkti-agency Early Drug Intervention initiative which will seek to reduce drug related crime and anti-social behaviour.
The partnership encourages people to get help for problems with drugs at the earliest stages of drug related crime before matters become more serious.
It also provides education and awareness raising sessions for teachers and their pupil’s parents in collaboration with Island needs.
Other issues being tackled at the event will be how the council’s DAT team are promoting and developing harm reduction and recovery services for people who misuse drugs.
The service has to report to the National Treatment Agency on a regular basis to demonstrate that it is providing the services that are needed to combat drug misuse on the Isle of Wight.
Councillor Dawn Cousins Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for health and well being said: “People who get involved in drugs are much more likely to do poorly at school and to get involved in crime.
“Parents, teachers the police and health and social care professionals need to take early action together so that young people are made aware of the damage drugs can do to their lives.
“By taking a coordinated approach, we can help to tackle the menace of drugs which blight our communities.”
Matt Lockyer, Police Lead for EDII said: “Police on the Isle of Wight work very closely with partners on drugs awareness and education, enabling substance misusers rapid access to treatment before they even enter the criminal justice system. This proactive approach means that we are giving them an early choice to seek help, which also reduces associated crime, such as shoplifting and burglary, and anti-social behaviour.”
