Partnership working
Our work to reduce drug deaths and harms is a collective endeavour. Our key stakeholders and partners are as follows.
Alcohol and drug partnerships
Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) are multi-disciplinary, non-statutory partnerships bringing together statutory and third sector organisations, the Police and the Scottish Prison Service, that are all working to tackle alcohol and drug issues locally.
We published Alcohol and Drug Partnerships: delivery framework (July 2019), jointly with the Convention of Scottish local Authorities leaders (CoSLA) and Scottish Ministers. Funding allocation figures for ADPs from 2017 are provided annually.
In total, there are thirty Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Scotland. The Alcohol and Drugs Partnership annual survey provides information on the activity undertaken by ADPs with an aim to evidence progress of the National Mission. We have published key contacts for each ADP.
Local authorities
Local authorities are responsible for providing social care and social work services, including support services for people impacted by substance use, and have delegated responsibility for specific functions and related budgets to Integration Authorities.
Integration Authorities (IAs) are responsible for integrating certain health and social care services provided by or for area health boards and local authorities such as alcohol and drug services.
IAs were established in 2014 in each local council area and, except in Highland, have been established as Integration Joint Boards. In many local areas services are provided by a Health and Social Care Partnership rather than separately though health boards and local authorities.
Health boards
National health boards are specialised and include Public Health Scotland, Health Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Area health boards are responsible for the prevention and treatment of disease. Health boards have delegated responsibility for specific healthcare functions and related budgets to IAs, and this includes some care and support functions for people impacted by substance use.
Key third sector partners
Key third sector partners provide vital expertise to support those with substance use dependency and their families. This includes peer-led delivery of services and recovery communities.
- Crew (Scotland) is a harm reduction and outreach charity that aims to reduce the harm and stigma associated with drug use
- the Scottish Drugs Forum is a national agency working to reduce drugs harm in Scotland and provide support to people who use substances and training to people working in the sector
- Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs is a national charity that support families across Scotland who are affected by a loved one’s substance use and raise awareness of the issues affecting them
- Turning Point Scotland offer a range of adult drug and alcohol harm reduction and recovery focused support
- WithYou is a charity that provides free confidential support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol and mental health
- Scottish Recovery Consortium are a recovery-oriented charity that builds and promotes recovery in Scotland
- Alcohol Focus Scotland is the national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol harm
- Scottish Alcohol Counselling Consortium publish a list of agencies providing support throughout Scotland
Other partners
Corra Foundation deliver funding programmes for grass roots and third sector organisations for the National Mission on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Justice partners include:
- Police Scotland
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Scottish Prison Service
- Community Justice