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Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Eastern Ontario
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:46 am Post subject: U.K. policy involving users in treatment decisions
U.K. policy states that users should be invovled in treatment decisions. It is unclear exactly what that means, however this policy does open up the whole area of user involvement for greater exploration. However, apparently this policy is intended to mean something greater than merely informed consent.
Although the principle of user involvement has been slow to take hold in drug treatment, both the National Treatment Agency in England and the Safer Communities Division of the Scottish Executive have recently committed themselves to involving drug users in treatment decisions. There is also a strong user involvement movement in the drug treatment field, with regional users’ forums and user consultation and representation at Drug (and Alcohol) Action Team level.
Despite this, experts have argued that there is a disjunction between the kinds of services drug users say they want and those that they are actually offered. Drug users entering treatment in the UK mostly identify abstinence as their main objective, yet most service provision is focused on ‘harm reduction’.
This study is concerned with drug users’ involvement in decisions about their own treatment. Previous research suggests that the benefits of involving drug users in decisions about their treatment are likely to include increased client retention and client satisfaction; negative effects might include slowed decision-making processes and frustration at being unable to make meaningful service changes.
This process of user invovlement unfolds through the Public Health System in that every region of the U.K. has to have a Drug Action Team. Sometimes referred to as a DAT or sometimes as a DAAT (Drug & Alcohol Action Team). Every DAT is responsible for encouraging a User Team within their locale. A User Team is a group of active and former drug users who are organized as a formalized users voice to participate and give feedback regarding drug treatment policy and practices in each locale.
The User Team "is working to assist user groups in setting up and to support existing groups, helping them gain office premises, computers and running costs to enable them to become fully involved in all areas of the drug treatment system and their local DAAT activities".
Part of the User Team's work is to hold training sessions which empower users with information "on user involvement, explanations of the NTA (National Treatment Agency), D(A)AT’s, government drug strategy, advocacy, setting up a user groups, sustaining that group and how to ensure your DAAT area carries out REAL user involvement fulfilling their obligations to involve users in the way their treatment system is run through involvement in partnership working with services and D(A)ATs".
Users are paid 40 pounds to take part in a 2 afternoon workshop which lays out the foundation for their development of a user group in their area. _________________
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