A NEW treatment system for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics is being adopted in Worcestershire which aims to reduce drug and alcohol related crimes.

The Worcestershire Drug and Alcohol Action Team has commissioned national charity Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) to lead a partnership of service providers to transform the delivery of substance misuse across the county.

Worcestershire ‘pathways to recovery’, led by CRI, includes Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and NHS Worcestershire. The system will place greater emphasis on achieving long lasting recovery for people with drug and alcohol problems. CRI will manage overall service delivery and deliver psychological and emotional support services.

Trust staff will deliver medically assisted recovery services, such as methadone prescribing and the young person’s treatment service.

The new treatment system will provide a range of services designed to help people stop using drugs.

There will be a focus not just on reducing the harm caused by drugs but ensuring people leave treatment drug and alcohol free and have the resources to sustain abstinence independently within their community.

The service will be delivered from centres in Worcester, Evesham, Kidderminster and Redditch.

Recovery workers will also use additional mobile bases across the county to make sure the service is provided close to where people live.

The new Worcester recovery service is scheduled to open in April. John Adcock, deputy director at CRI, said: “The new, integrated treatment service is designed to be easily accessible to anyone who needs support and will be tailored to the needs of individuals.

“Our aim will be to support people to overcome their dependence on drugs and alcohol and to live more stable and crime-free lives. We will work within local communities to help service users sustain their recovery through employment, stable housing, volunteer activities and education.”

Dr Ros Keeton, Chief Executive of the mental health trust, said: “We welcome this opportunity to work with CRI in delivering a comprehensive, service user and recovery focused substance misuse service in Worcestershire.”