Connections project to debate effectiveness of drug and alcohol interventions within criminal justice system

The second annual European gathering of the Connections project, a University of Kent-managed project co-funded by the European Commission Public Health Programme, will debate the ethics, effectiveness and economics of drug and alcohol interventions within the criminal justice system.

Based on the premise that no single intervention can be universally applied to produce positive outcomes, participants will consider how the different components can be combined to construct a comprehensive treatment system, offering accessible and effective options to those requiring help, while demonstrating value for money.

The conference is directly relevant to professionals and service users from health, drugs and social care organisations, as well as probation staff, police, prison-based staff and managers, funders and purchasers of intervention services, academics, NGOs, politicians and policy makers.

The proceedings of the conference will be published in a report, together with any recommendations that might emerge during the event. In the first instance this will be published in a special issue of Drink and Drug News. It will also be presented to the European Commission. The report will also be made available to everyone to use as a tool to influence decision making in a range of locations. For example, in the UK it will be presented to parliamentarians, via the Cross Party Group on Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Harm Reduction.

The conference is supported by the Conference Consortium, Drink and Drugs News and the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO).

Dr Alex Stevens, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University's School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research and the conference organiser, said: 'This conference presents a vital opportunity to share knowledge on how to make services on drugs and alcohol in the criminal justice system more ethical and effective, while also saving money for the taxpayer. With rising numbers of drug users in prison, with inadequate services for alcohol problems in the criminal justice system and with the need to cut public spending, there has never been a more important time to consider these issues.'