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The Colchester Drug and Alcohol Reference Group
The Colchester Drug and Alcohol Reference Group, or
DARG, is responsible for delivering the Government’s anti-drug
strategy in Colchester. Similar groups operate throughout the country.
Members of the Colchester group come from a
wide range of local agencies, and a full list is given below. They
work together to reduce drug and alcohol misuse and the problems
that they cause the local community.
This section summarises the group’s background, membership
and activities.
Background
In 1995 the Government published a white paper called
‘Tackling Drugs Together’. This led to the setting up
of multi-agency groups at both strategic (often county) level, and
at local level to implement the strategy. These are known as Drug
Action Teams, or DATs, and Drug Reference Groups, or DRGs, respectively.
The Colchester DRG was established in September 1996.
In April 1998 a new strategy,
‘Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain’ was published.
(See www.drugs.gov.uk)
This focuses on four key areas, which can be summarised as: -
- Young People - to help them resist drug misuse
in order to achieve their full potential
- Communities - to protect them from drug related
crime
- Treatment - to help people with drug problems overcome
them and live healthy lives
- Availability - to disrupt the supply of illegal
drugs.
The Essex DAT and DRG Action Plans must relate to
this strategy and show how these aims are to be achieved at local
level.
The Colchester DRG also covers alcohol issues so in
2001 it changed its name to the Colchester Drug and Alcohol Reference
Group or DARG.
Membership
The Colchester DARG membership includes representatives
from the following organisations and agencies:
The group also works very closely with the Colchester
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (www.colchester-community-safety.org.uk),
and the DARG action plan
forms part of the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2002-2005.
Achievements and Activities
The Colchester Drug and Alcohol
Reference Group has led or supported a number of initiatives since
it was formed in 1996. These have included:
- Young Person's Health Information Card
- Colchester United’s Football in the Community
Health Awareness Programme
- Guidelines for prescribing to Substance Misusers
- Guidelines for primary health care staff on dealing
with people with alcohol problems
- Drugs information & education projects with
children and parents
- Drugs education seminars for local teachers
- Crucial Crew child safety project
- Drug and alcohol awareness training for local businesses
- Drug and alcohol awareness training for health
and social care staff
- Drugs education resources
and newsletters for schools
- Proof of Age Scheme
- Researching the views of service users
- Mercury Theatre & Youth Service drama project
Many of these initiatives are ongoing, and others
are being planned in response to national strategy and/or local
need.
Action Plans
The DARG produces an Action
Plan every year. This is fed back to the DAT, along with those
of the other Essex DRGs, and forms part of a report of activity
to Government. The plan must reflect the aims of the national strategy
and, where possible, set out how these will be delivered at a local
level. Its key priorities for 2001-2004 are:
- implementation of the Communities Against
Drugs initiative, including allocation of funding & monitoring
of projects. More information on this initiative can be found
at www.crimereduction.co.uk
- increasing the profile of alcohol misuse
- continuing to work with schools to develop
a consistent approach to drug and alcohol education across the
borough
The DARG Action Plan is consistent with, and
complements, other local strategies, particularly the Colchester
Health Improvement Programme (See www.colchester-pct.nhs.uk)
and the Colchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy. (See www.colchester-community-safety.org.uk).
For more information about Colchester DARG please contact Alison
Woolnough, Community Health Co-ordinator, Colchester Borough Council.
Telephone: 01206 282975
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