The Drugs Strategy Delivery Commission (DSDC) was established to offer independent expertise and challenge to Scotland’s national drug strategy, the Road to Recovery. The Commission is chaired by Dr Brian Kidd, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Addiction Psychiatry, and includes individuals with a range of practical expertise in the drugs field and volunteers with experience of recovery.  Further information:

Membership and biography.

Register of Interests

DSDC Annual Report 2010/11

The DSDC published its first report on 19 October 2011 on the Scottish Government’s progress in the delivery of the national drugs strategy, the Road to Recovery. 

The report contains a number of recommendations to the Scottish Government which aim to increase the impact of the many initiatives to address Scotland’s drug problem.   Recommendations made focus on three key areas, Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse; Care, Treatment and Recovery; and Governance and Accountability of the Delivery Systems. 

The report is available on the link under Publications on the left hand side of this screen.

Thank you

Following their resignations, the Commission would like to thank Sian Fiddimore and Teresa Medhurst for their contributions since December 2009.  .

Welcome to new members

The Commission would like to welcome five new members to the group; Kate Donegan, Governor of HMYOI Polmont,Peter Donnelly, Professor of Public Health Medicine at the University of St. Andrews, Angus Whyte, Access to Industry Board member, Tom Wood, Chair of East & Midlothian Child Protection Committee and Rowdy Yates, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Stirling.

Meeting with Minister

The DSDC Executive Group met with the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Roseanna Cunningham on 5 October 2011.  The DSDC Annual Report was discussed prior to publication and the Chair gave an update on the Commission's work.

DSDC Task Groups

The Commission has established task groups  to investigate further the delivery of four priority areas in Scotland’s drugs strategy the Road to Recovery.  The task groups are Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse; Prevention; Enforcement; and Delivering Recovery Outcomes.  Each Task Group is chaired by a member of the Commission.

Meeting with CMO

Members of the DSDC met with the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Dr. Harry Burns in October 2010 to discuss methadone and treatment guidance.  Chapter 3 of the 2009 CMO Annual Report for Scotland, publised on 16 November 2010 was drafted by DSDC members. This chapter on Problem Drug Use in Scotland covers A Person's Journey, Shared Care and An Evolving Healthcare Problem.A link to the full report can be found at the bottom left hand side of the screen.

UK Drug Strategy Consultation
The DSDC provided the attached response to the UK Government’s Home Office Consultation ‘2010 Drug strategy consultation paper’ in September.
HO Consultation - DSDC Response

ACMD

Members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) attended the DSDC meeting in September 2010. The Council’s Chair, Professor Les Iversen, updated members on ACMD’s priorities in the past year. A detailed discussion took place about the management of “legal highs” and the future intentions of the Council. It was acknowledged that although ACMD’s remit is different from that of the DSDC, both groups have shared priorities. It was agreed that ongoing work to improve collaboration between the groups would be beneficial and that the Council would provide a rolling brief of their work to the Commission on an ongoing basis.

Quality Assurance

Representatives from a number of national organisations with a role in quality assurance also attended the DSDC meeting in September. Organisations represented were:

- Quality Improvement Scotland/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
- Social Work Inspection Agency
- Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education
- Information Services Division Scotland
- Scottish Government Drugs Delivery Unit

Individuals from these key organisations had been invited to discuss their organisation’s remit in relation to governance and accountability, in the context of the Road to Recovery. This involved each organisation providing an overview of the various streams commissioned and managed by their organisation which have relevance for delivery of the Road to Recovery.

Meeting with Minister
The DSDC Chair, Dr. Brian Kidd met with the Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing, on 18 August 2010. Dr. Kidd gave an update on the Commission’s work and it’s priorities for the coming year.