Thousands of people across the country who are struggling with drug addiction are being helped into treatment as part of a major project to tackle drug supply and use.
Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) is a programme that is working to address drug addiction in some of the local authorities that have been hit the hardest in England and Wales. This project has seen the police collaborating with local partners to divert those who are most vulnerable into treatment as they seek to recover from addiction. Since it’s launch in 2021, the programme has helped the police to make 2,729 interventions against organised criminal gangs, however it has also seen 4,966 people helped into drug treatment.
Matt Ashton, Liverpool City Council’s Director of Public Health, said:
“I’m delighted that Liverpool has had this major investment into our front-line service which has allowed us to realise many of our ambitions to improve the way we support people with their drug and alcohol use.
“Partnership working has been integral to the success of ADDER, and from a citywide perspective we are delighted with the results. We have been able to use a whole system approach that strengthens partnerships working with Merseyside Police, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, We Are With You and YMCA Together so that we can support more individuals and communities across the city.”
As part of the process of helping those who are recovering from addiction, art, creative writing and community work have helped to give people stability. This will ensure that, rather than falling back into addiction, people are able to build a life away from drugs and engage in training, employment as well as finding permanent housing.
Neil O’Brien, Health Minister, said:
“Our trail-blazing response to combating drug-use is working, and I’m pleased to see the data shows communities are safer thanks to a combination of tough law enforcement and more treatment and recovery services.
“However, we must not lose momentum, Our 10-year drug strategy is driving up drug treatment and we are investing £532 million to tackle addiction. By the end of the parliament, local authority funding for treatment will have grown 40% compared to 2020.”
Since Project ADDER was introduced in 2021, ADDER funded areas have seen Merseyside Police alone achieving the following:
- Conducted 818 disruptions against organised crime groups.
- Made 7,269 arrests for possession of drugs, drug trafficking and weapons offences.
- Seized £3,933,262.90 worth of cash.
Police Commissioner for Merseyside, Emily Spurrell, added:
“Intervening early to support vulnerable people is vital if we are to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
“Project ADDER is a fantastic example of the difference this approach to crime can make – thousands of individuals diverted away from the criminal justice system and unto the right place to get the help and treatment they need.
“This is not only helping to transform their lives, it is freeing up police resources and making our communities safer. This is backed up with robust enforcement targeting heartless individuals who seek to profit from other people’s misery. The results from ADDER show organised crime gangs are disrupted and dismantled, weapons are off our streets and young people are protected.”
