Telford Council backs drug and alcohol strategy
A three-year strategy to tackle drug and alcohol abuse in Telford & Wrekin has been welcomed by councillors.
The council's cabinet approved the Telford and Wrekin Drug and Alcohol Strategy through to 2017 when it met at AFC Telford United's learning centre yesterday.
Councillor Arnold England highlighted a section in the report of public health consultant Helen Onions, which said: "The evidence is clear that prevention and early intervention works and saves money.
"It is estimated that every £1 spent on young people's drug and alcohol interventions brings a benefit of £5 to £8."
Councillor England, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "For me that encapsulates the reasons behind this. It reduces costs, reduces the costs of crime, has lifetime benefits and so on."
And Councillor Paul Watling, who has responsibility for children, young people and families, said tackling alcohol and drug abuse could save the council money on the cost of looking after children in care.
He said: "Young children come into the system due to their parents' misuse of drugs and alcohol and it's clear this strategy will help with prevention of that abuse."
The strategy focuses on the need for co-ordinated action across a range of organisations, and schemes to prevent people from misusing substances. The report highlights the drug and alcohol abuse causes in the borough. There are about 30 early deaths from liver disease each year and an estimated 1,020 people are opiate or crack cocaine users or problematic drug users.
