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National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)

The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) collects, collates and analyses information from those involved in the drug treatment system in England. This information was originally managed by the Department of Health and responsibility for this was handed over to the NTA in April 2003.

Statistical reports present data on the number of problem drug users in contact with drug treatment agencies and GPs in England, and the proportion of clients retained in drug treatment. Figures do not include clients treated in prisons.

Treatment figures for England in 2006/07 show that:¹

• 195,464 individuals were recorded as in contact with structured drug treatment services in England 2006/07. This is a ten per cent increase on revised figures for 2005/06 where there were 177,055.
• 80,280 individuals commenced treatment in 2006/07 of which 60,392 (75 per cent) remained in structured treatment for 12 weeks or more following triage assessment. This compares to a revised figure of 83,030 individuals commencing treatment in 2005/06 of which 62,976 (76 per cent) remained in structured treatment for 12 weeks or more following triage assessment.
• 156,854 individuals (80 per cent of those treated in the year) either successfully completed treatment in 2006/07 or were retained in treatment on 31 March 2007. Revised 2005/06 figures reported 135,090 (76 per cent)
• 27,513 individuals (42 per cent of those discharged) successfully completed treatment in 2006/07. Revised 2005/06 figures reported 21,569 (34 per cent).
• 129,341 individuals (66 per cent of those in treatment) were retained in treatment on 31/03/07. Revised 2005/06 figures reported 113,521 (64 per cent).
• 104,062 individuals presented to structured drug treatment services in 2006/07. The revised figure reported for 2005/06 was 102,610.

Statistical reports and further information can be found on the National Treatment Agency website at www.nta.nhs.uk.

Scottish Drug Misuse Database

• In 2005/06, 13,791 'new' individuals were reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database, a decrease of 1,207 individuals (8%) from 2004/05 (14,998 individuals).
• Of the 11,692 individuals who reported illicit drug use, the most commonly reported drug was heroin (68%, 7,910 clients) followed by cannabis (38%, 4,441 clients) and diazepam (30%, 3,558 clients).

New individual patients/clients reported 2000/01-2005/06²

* Figures exclude penal establishment inmates and information received from needle exchanges.

Welsh Database for Substance Misuse

The Welsh Database for Substance Misuse is held by Health Solutions Wales.
Experimental Statistics on Substance Misuse is the first in a series of annual statistical releases on clients seen at drug and alcohol treatment agencies in Wales.² 

Provisional key findings for 2005/06 are as follows^:

• There were 19,937 clients seen for treatment of alcohol or drug misuse in Wales.
• 67% of clients seen were male.
• For 51% of clients seen the main problem substance was alcohol.
• For 18% of clients seen the main problem substance was heroin.
• 29% of clients seen were self referrals and 16% were referred by a GP.
• 32% of clients whose main problem substance was alcohol were aged under 30.
• 58% of people whose main problem substance was drugs were aged under 30.
• Swansea had the highest rate of clients seen for alcohol and drug misuse, the lowest rate was in Isle of Anglesey/Gwynedd.
• 75% of clients seen for alcohol or drug misuse started treatment in less than 4 weeks.

  Further information may be obtained by contacting the Heatlh and Care departement of the Welsh Assembly Government Statistical Directorate
  Tel: 029 2082 5080
  Email: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk
  www.statswales.wales.gov.uk

Reference

1. Statistics for drug treatment activity in England 2006/07 from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System. Statistical release. 18 October 2007. Available at www.nta.nhs.uk/ accessed 5 November 2007.
2. Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2006. Edinburgh: Information Services Division, 2006. Available at www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/06dmss/06dmss.pdf accessed 5 November 2007.
3. Experimental Statistics. Substance Misuse in Wales, 2005-06. Cardiff: Statistical Directorate, National Assembly for Wales, October 2006. Available at http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/40382313/403824/health/health-2006/sdr135-2006.pdf?lang=en accessed 27 October 2006.