The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7437 p124
3 February 2007

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News summary

Drug misuse treatment funding to be levelled out

Steps are being taken to even out the amounts spent on treating drug addiction in different areas of England.

Drug Action Teams in parts of the country that receive the least per capita funding are to get increases in the next financial year, while those that received the most are to have their budgets trimmed. Overall, spending across England is to rise from £375m to £388m in 2007–08.

The National Treatment Agency and strategic health authorities will be working with those areas that are to see their budgets cut to ensure that services are not jeopardised. Recent work conducted by the Audit Commission and the National Treatment Agency to benchmark treatment costs has shown where savings can be made and will be used to help all areas make better use of their funding in future.