WIRRAL is set to receive £1.4 million after being recognised as being one of the local authorities with the highest level of need for drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

The borough has been announced by the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care as being part of the first 50 local authorities with the ‘highest level of need’, and is therefore set to receive enhanced funding to tackle the local drug and alcohol treatment crisis.

According to the UK Addiction Treatment Group, under the announcement, Wirral is set to receive £1,400,000 in its drug strategy allocation, plus an additional £111,364 to fund inpatient detoxification.

The Health Secretary said: This is a significant step in our commitment to rebuild the drug treatment system, save lives, and level up the country. 

“We’re investing a record amount in treatment services and ensuring some of the most deprived areas in England are first in line for this funding, to support those most vulnerable by cutting drug use.”

Wirral is one of a handful of areas whose allocation also includes treatment and recovery funding from the police-led Project ADDER, a programme with four overarching aims; to reduce drug-related death, to reduce drug-related offending, to reduce the prevalence of drug use, and to majorly disrupt high-harm criminals and networks involved in middle-market drug/firearms supply and importation within the Wirral. 

 It is also among the first wave of 50 local authorities receiving enhanced funding based on its ‘high level of need’, decided based on the local drug death rate, deprivation, opiate and crack cocaine prevalence, and crime rates.

The breakdown of funding was announced earlier this month by Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid, as part of a £780m national investment over three years.

Another 50 local authorities will be selected for 2023/24 and the final, less-urgent areas in 2024/25.

Nuno Albuquerque, Consultant Treatment Lead for the UK Addiction Treatment Group, said:

“The extra, immediate funding for drug and alcohol treatment services in the Wirral is of course welcomed, but we hope it isn’t all smoke and mirrors. 

Wirral Globe: Nuno AlbuquerqueNuno Albuquerque

“This money needs to be spent cleverly by the Council here and with the addict in mind. 

“There’s no point spending money to detoxify people from drugs only to leave them on their own straight after.

“Their body will no longer be addicted, but their minds will be.

“Consistent and immediate therapy and rehabilitation are required to ensure that this extra funding isn’t wasted and most importantly, to give the person in treatment the best chance of a life in recovery.”

The UK Addiction Treatment Group provides 24/7 confidential help and support with drugs and alcohol.