Turning Point’s Clare Taylor explores how the drug strategy can support Labour’s growth agenda.
The rise in long-term sickness in the wake of the pandemic and increasing numbers not working nor actively seeking employment is a hotly debated topic. If the new Labour government is to achieve their headline mission to kickstart economic growth, they need to tackle economic inactivity.
This no small feat. There may be a number of inter-related underlying issues at the root of economic inactivity, but this is rarely reflected in the media. Few subjects stir up the popular press quite like people claiming benefits.
Employment issues related to drug or alcohol use can range from ‘absenteeism’ which might be the first sign that someone is developing a problem with alcohol to chronic unemployment. Previous estimates suggest 80% of people struggling with substance use are estimated to receive benefits, with little success of getting back to work.
Employment is an essential part of recovery, both for financial stability and to offer meaningful activity. Yet those struggling with drugs or alcohol can face significant barriers in getting and keeping a job. Dame Carol Black, in her landmark review on drugs, noted how employer-focused employment support inside treatment centres has shown promising results.
Investment linked to the subsequent drug strategy has enabled the sector to increase the number of treatment places, to strengthen the workforce and we are beginning to see a rise in the number of people accessing support. This includes progress on a central aim of the drug strategy, which is to provide holistic support through “employment opportunities, accommodation and their mental health”.
At Turning Point, we know the value of employment in promoting good health and wellbeing. Last year we supported 1,241 people to access new education, training or employment opportunities. This includes the establishment of Individual Placement and Support schemes offering targeted support to people recovering from drug or alcohol issues.
We also recognise the essential role played by peer mentors and volunteers within our services. They have lived experience of the recovery process, and are well placed to offer guidance, friendship and hope to those experiencing similar issues. Many of our peer mentors have been out of work for a long time and peer mentoring can be the first step towards gainful employment.
Gaining employment can be truly transformative for someone in recovery. Tammy is well on her way to opening her own therapy business. The confidence she gained as a volunteer peer mentor enabled her to go back to education and gain the qualifications that will allow her to open an alternative therapy business to support people’s physical and mental well-being.
Looking back on her time working as a peer mentor with Turning Point, Tammy said: “It really helped me with my long-term recovery, giving back to the community by supporting other people who were struggling. I really learnt a lot about myself. I learnt that I was more confident than I thought I was. It made me realise that I can interact with people because I always thought that I was kind of introverted.”
We are now 3 years into a 10-year drug strategy, but future funding to realise the ambitions of the strategy remains uncertain. If the government continues to invest in building up skills and capacity in the sector, we can turn the tide, enabling people previously struggling with substance use to thrive within their community and workplaces.
It is essential the Autumn Spending Review commits to continuing drug strategy funding – ensuring the substance use sector and wider public services are fit for purpose in supporting people’s health and achieve their career ambitions.
Clare Taylor is Chief Operating Officer at Turning Point and Interim Chair of Collective Voice, the sector body representing third sector drug treatment providers
This blog was originally published by Turning Point. You can read the original post here.
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