There is significant, wider work underway to tackle the problem of alcohol and drugs misuse at source.
For example, through a national process of delivery reform we have transformed the local leadership for Alcohol and Drugs services and support and established 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs). These ADPs are responsible for delivering local strategies to deal with drug and alcohol problems in response to local needs. They are expected to work effectively as a partnership and to partner with other Groups and Committees including Child Protection Committees (CPCs) and Community Safety Partnerships in local areas.
The Government has also put in place a HEAT target to drive down waiting times and ensure that people will not have to wait to get access to treatment. Across Scotland there has already been a marked improvement, and by 2013, ninety percent of people should not have to wait more than 3 weeks.
Drugs Specific
The national drugs strategy, Road to Recovery, aims to deliver better outcomes for children through direct and wider action that aims to build support in the communities in which children and families live. This is so that Recovery becomes the expectation for people with drug problems and not the exception.
The Scottish Drugs Recovery Consortium has been established to promote recovery across Scotland and an independent Scottish Drugs Strategy Commission has also been established to challenge the Scottish Government on delivery of the Road to Recovery. The Commission has prioritised Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse (CAPSM) and will be reporting its findings to Ministers in 2011.
The Government also sponsors SFAD - Scottish Families Affected by Drugs - who provide information, networking and support for families.
Prevention is a key component of the Road to Recovery and the Government is working through Curriculum for Excellence and complementary initiatives like Choices for Life which seek to educate children specifically on the dangers of drugs.
Alcohol Specific
The Alcohol Framework sets out the Scottish Government's strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland.
Over 50% of men and 40% of women exceed recommended weekly alcohol limits. The Framework recognises that alcohol misuse is not a marginal problem and it is not just the individual that is affected - the negative impact is felt by families, friends communities and Scotland as a whole.
In 2008, it was estimated that around 65,000 (7%) Scottish Children (aged 16 years and under) were living with a problem drinker. Reducing adult alcohol consumption is key to reducing the effects on these children. This was evidenced by a 2009 Childline in Scotland report ( Untold Damage) about harmful parental drinking.
That is why the Alcohol Framework sets out over 40 measures which collectively aim to support a change in culture. These range from legislation around the availability of alcohol, such as the ban on irresponsible promotions which was included in the recent Alcohol Bill, to record investment of around £100 million through NHS Boards (2008-11) to provide vital local prevention, support and treatment services for those affected both directly and indirectly by alcohol misuse.
Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) are also being rolled out as an early intervention to help people reduce their drinking before it becomes a serious problem and to help those drinking at hazardous and harmful levels to cut down. All of these measures are critical to reducing the negative impact on children.
The range of activity outlined is intended to ensure that we are tackling the problem of substance misuse at source, better understand the scale of the problem and also ensure that all partners are working together early and effectively to address it.