Suffolk Combatting Drugs Partnership

The Suffolk Combatting Drugs Partnership (CDP) brings different organisations together to improve outcomes for people affected by drugs and alcohol.

We work together to:

• Reduce the harm caused by drugs and alcohol
• Keep people and communities safe
• Improve access to treatment and recovery support
• Identify new and emerging drug trends
• Share information and learning across Suffolk

The Partnership supports the Government's 10-year drugs strategy by focusing on three priorities:

• Break drug supply chains
• Deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system
• Achieve a generational shift in demand for drugs

• Reviews local data and trends
• Supports involvement of people with lived experience
• Identifies emerging drug threats and risks
• Coordinates work across organisations
• Shares good practice and learning
• Monitors progress against Suffolk's Combatting Drugs priorities

By working together, we can:

• Improve health and wellbeing
• Reduce drug-related harm and deaths
• Support recovery and resilience
• Protect vulnerable children, young people and adults
• Build safer and healthier communities across Suffolk

Working together allows us to share information, identify concerns early and coordinate our response. Currently we have membership from the following organisations:

• Turning Point
• District and Borough Councils
• National Probation Service
• Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
• Adult Social Care
• HM Prison Service
• NHS England
• Integrated Care Board
• Regional Office of Health 
• Suffolk County Council - Public Health, Communities & Public Safety
• Suffolk Constabulary
• Youth Justice

Suffolk Combatting Drugs Partnership has undergone a refresh in its approach to deliver on the three priorities and over the next year will be setting up workstreams focusing on innovation and improving outcomes across Suffolk.

1. Lived Experience

People with lived experience driving service design, delivery and evaluation. We will endeavour to ensure that the voice of lived experience is embedded and represented in our partnership. We will do this through having lived experience representatives within our workstreams and develop ongoing focus groups to ensure innovation and actions align with the needs of the people of Suffolk.

2. Harm Prevention

We will strive to increase early intervention, public awareness and support in place for families, children and young people and within education. We will be developing a Children, Families & Young People workstream to bring together key partners and expertise across Suffolk.

3. The Root Cause

We will strengthen our response to complex needs by improving support for people affected by trauma, poor mental health, exploitation and health inequalities. Through collaborative workstreams, we will develop integrated pathways, enhance support for those with co-occurring conditions, and improve access to services across Suffolk.

4. Responding to Emerging Trends 

Through our workstreams and evaluation of data we will be able to identify emerging substances, patterns of use and associated risks allowing us to respond appropriately.

5. Prison Release

We will be aiming to improve continuity of care from prisons into drug and alcohol treatment services within the community through a joined up working approach which includes prison in-reach and stronger communication driving this improvement.

6. Communities and Recovery

We will strengthen recovery-focused communities by building recovery capital through peer support, community engagement and reducing stigma. We recognise that recovery is sustained not only through treatment services, but through positive relationships, meaningful activity, stable housing, employment opportunities and a sense of belonging within local communities.

7. Workforce Development

We will create a shared culture, skills framework and approach across organisations, ensuring that staff across the system are equipped to meet the evolving needs of those affected by drug and alcohol use. This will include a refreshed workforce needs assessment, the development of comprehensive training programmes, and enhanced sharing of expertise and best practice across agencies.

• Suffolk Drug and Alcohol Service | Turning Point
• Suffolk Drugs and Alcohol Service for Young People | Turning Point

To help reduce drug-related deaths Turning Point provide free overdose response Naloxone kits to people at risk of an opioid overdose, their family and friends, and members of the public who could help prevent an overdose.

Naloxone is a medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including those related to heroin, methadone, morphine, buprenorphine, codeine and synthetic opioids, like nitazenes and fentanyl. Find out more and order a kit through the Suffolk Turning Point website.

• Suffolk Drug and Alcohol Service | Turning Point