Alcohol Concern and DrugScope have joined calls for a "re-think" of some of the national care standards for younger adults and adult placements, which were issued for consultation between June and September.
According to research carried out by the two charities and the European Association for the Treatment of Addiction, the standards will deprive people recovering from serious drink and drug problems of crucial treatment and counselling services.
The claims follow EATA's concerns last month that suicide and self-harm among people in residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities could increase if the standards are introduced.
A joint survey of 78 of the 130 registered residential alcohol and drugs facilities in the UK found that 40 per cent of residential care beds for people recovering from serious drink and drug problems could disappear as a direct result of the standards.
The standards that will have the most impact are those on minimum bedroom sizes, larger communal areas, fewer people sharing toilets and bathrooms, and an end to room-sharing.
DrugScope director of policy and practice Annette Dale-Perera added: "The standards mirror those applied to long-term residential homes for the elderly. This is inappropriate as people recovering from alcohol or drug addiction often stay at treatment centres for only a short term."
Iceland banking crisis: the impact on social care
Adult care complaints system needs to improve, finds NAO
Details of government consultations
02 October 2008
Private Member Bills
25 July 2008
Government Legislation
25 July 2008
