Quality of drug services should not be compromised says Barnes

The government’s drive to increase the number of drug
users accessing treatment must not compromise the quality of
services, a conference heard today, writes Maria Ahmed
from the conference.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of drug charity DrugScope, said
agencies needed to be “vigilant” in ensuring effective
treatment.

He told DrugScope’s conference in London that the National
Treatment Agency’s target of increasing the number of drug
users entering treatment by 200,000 by 2008 should be based on
“quality not quantity”.

He highlighted that drug users in the worst performing services
were “seven times more likely” to drop out of
treatment.

Barnes also called for “greater transparency” in the
inspection and auditing of services.