A project to assess and better understand drug and alcohol issues in the Isle of Man, and plan future services, has commenced with a series of informal community chat sessions which were held at venues across the Island.

The work will help to inform Government and other stakeholders on the needs of the Island’s community, ultimately shaping services for the public, such as efforts to prevent drug and alcohol abuse as well as supporting those with addiction.

The project – called a joint strategic needs assessment – was started by the Island’s multi-agency Drug and Alcohol Steering Group.

The Centre for Public Innovation (CPI) has been appointed to carry out the work following a competitive tendering exercise and is being financed through the Island’s ‘seized asset fund’. CPI has experience in assessing need in communities, having worked with local authorities in England as well as other crown dependencies on similar issues.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Kate Beecroft MHK, said: “With finite resources, it is more important than ever that health and social care services are properly planned and commissioned and that we focus on the outcomes of the five year strategy for health and social care. To do this we need to systematically review the health and wellbeing needs of the Island’s population – gaining insight and evidence to help Government agree its priorities for funding services.

“A joint strategic needs assessment is a widely used and respected tool for achieving this. It will provide a unique picture of local needs, gaps in current and projected future provision, and identify the short and the longer-term strategic priorities.”

It is hoped this drugs and alcohol ‘chapter’ will be the first of a series of assessments examining the needs of the community across the breadth of health and social care services.

The community chat sessions are just the beginning of activities to engage the wider public. There will also be interviews with current service users and stakeholders and engagement with schools and youth clubs and members of Tynwald. Feedback is also invited from the public and anyone wishing to contribute to the review, in confidence, can email drugsandalcohol@gov.im or write to Drugs and Alcohol JSNA, Public Health Directorate, Cronk Coar, Strang, IM4 4RJ.

The final report is expected in the spring of 2017.

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