But the ministerial statement is remarkably unspecific. If they are serious about putting the emphasis on promoting recovery from drug problems rather than simply managing the problems, then it is going to cost a lot. "Person-centred care" is much more expensive than handing out methadone. But the only reference to resources is the following:
The programme of action will be supported by a package of £94 million over the next three years. Health Boards will receive a 3.8 per cent increase in funding for drug treatment services. Funds are also spent on tackling drug use from other general budgets allocated by Government to local authorities.
A 3.8 per cent increase in funding drug treatment services is not going to go very far. Has any attempt been made to assess what is needed? Is this 3.8% increase based on need or on what was left in the kitty after other commitments? And is it included in the £94 million or is it additional? And how much is spent on drug treatment services at present?
In any case, surely a national strategy should start by setting out the scale of the problem. It is all very well to suggest (as the statement does) that the total cost to society of problem drug use amounts to £2.6 billion, but where is there any estimate of the number of problem drug users, the types of drugs abused and their geographical distribution? Because any action programme must start from such an analysis.
Nor is there any indication of what new facilities will be required to provide "person-centred care" nor how many extra staff will be needed. Unless this information is available, then it is impossible to cost the strategy.
Perhaps all this will become clearer in the weeks to come, but until then it seems less of a strategy and more of an aspiration.
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