Agenda item

·         Substance misuse trends, treatment services and preventative interventions

·         Public Health interface with the Barnet Community Safety Strategy priorities

·         Tackling issues of domestic violence and abuse, mental health and substance misuse

The Chairman invited Dr Djuretic and Ms Songer to present their paper: ‘Substance misuse prevalence, trends, preventative interventions and local opportunities’.

Ms Songer reported that cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis were the most used drugs amongst young people in Barnet whereas opiate use was higher in people aged 35-64. This reflected the national picture.

The number of dependent drinkers in Barnet not in treatment was increasing annually and was currently 88%. Those being treated for drug and alcohol misuse in Barnet had a good completion rate and were unlikely to return to treatment.

The paper set out prevention opportunities for drug and alcohol misuse – many were already in place locally but much work was to be done to ensure they were effective. Leadership was needed from the SCPB and the Health and Wellbeing Board to articulate a shared ambition for reducing alcohol harm via strong oversight of the local substance misuse strategy and implementation plan.

Routine data sharing across local alcohol partners should be used to inform strategic planning and service delivery. Also influencing local alcohol licensing policy is one of the most effective ways to prevent alcohol related harm and commissioning of services must be appropriate to the substance-misusing population.

Mr Rose asked whether there was more information available on nitrous oxide since it was banned in 2016. Fentanyl was not mentioned in the report and this drug was linked to a large number of overdoses and deaths. Ms Songer would look into this.

Action: Ms Songer

Clerk’s note: following the meeting Ms Songer forwarded this information:

• To date, no one in Barnet accessing substance misuse treatment has disclosed Fentanyl use
• In 2018 there have been 133 Fentanyl related deaths in the UK, these are mostly in the north-east.
• The MET area has seen 4 Fentanyl related deaths and 4 seizures – none of these in Barnet

Ms Songer noted that PHE was developing a Potent Opioid Overdose Framework in response to the Fentanyl crisis – details would be reported back to the SCP when available.

Action: Dr Djuretic

The Chairman asked how long the process would take for this to be implemented in Barnet. Ms Songer responded that cases were not appearing in the Barnet drug service but they were appearing nationally.

Ms Ansdell reported that she had seen users of Fentanyl in the streets in Barnet and it was possible that they were not being referred to the service. Mr Rose added that overdosing on this drug was easy and the number of deaths would reflect the use though the Coroner’s reports were possibly not identifying it specifically. Ms Vagarwal would check Coroner’s Court data to see whether Fentanyl was being named in cases of overdose.  The Community Safety team would also be carrying out a review of the Substance Misuse Strategy and Delivery Plan so it was important to ensure that Fentanyl was represented.

Ms Emma Phasey, Group Manager, Public Protection was invited to the table. She reported that the licensing team had been working with local businesses to discourage them from selling alcohol to known street drinkers.

Ms Vagarwal suggested that a paper be brought to the SCPB outlining the relationship between the HWBB and the SCPB to get a coordinated approach. Dr Djuretic added that the work could continue within the current structures or it might be necessary to set up a task and finish group. Other aspects such as homelessness were brought to both HWBB and SCPB and substance misuse was part of this. A prevention and strategy plan showing the suggested pathways would be brought to the SCPB for discussion.

Action: Ms Vagarwal, Dr Djuretic

Ms Bateman noted that she was keen to work with the public health team also on how services are monitored.

Mr Rose noted that Section 182 of licensing act 2003 allows local authorities to have ‘negative cumulative impact areas’. In some problem areas in Cardiff some off licences were breathalysing people before selling alcohol to prevent street drinking and this was having an impact. It would be worth doing this in problem areas in Barnet. This was agreed. Ms Vagarwal noted that this was being considered in Burnt Oak and evidence gathering was taking place before this would be considered by the Licensing Committee.