Page last updated: 27-MAR-2007

Drug Treatment Waiting Times
Statistical Publication Notice

27th March 2007

National Statistics Logo

National Drug Treatment Waiting Times Information Framework Report
October-December 2006 link opens in a new window

 
SUMMARY OF RELEASE:
 
Data on the number of clients seen and the length of time they waited to be seen for various drug treatment interventions. The interventions include:

(1) structured preparatory & motivation intervention
(2) prescribed drug treatment
(3) community support/rehabilitation
(4) residential detoxification/rehabilitation
 
Tables and charts are presented by Alcohol and Drug Action Team (ADAT) area.

Data is drawn from the National Drug Treatment Waiting Times Information Framework Report. Data are released from the Framework on a quarterly basis.
At time of publication, information on waiting times is only available from 16 of the 22 ADAT's.  Due to the data being incomplete, a figure for Scotland has not been presented as to do so would be misleading.
These tables are primarily intended to help ADATs monitor and manage performance in their own areas over a period of time. To compare data across ADATs is risky and potentially inappropriate.  There is a wide range of demand for substance misuse services across Scotland, and to meet this demand, an equally variable set of practices across the country. In some ADAT areas, the impact of a single specialized service - for example, a crisis management centre - may dramatically alter the distribution of waiting times.
The number of services submitting data varies significantly from area to area and within areas across time (ie over data collection quarters). Caution is therefore recommended when interpreting trend data.

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NOTES:

In February 2007, ISD provided ADAT?s with a revised data collection. The revised system now allows ADAT's to produce a wider range of reports and also provides them with the facility to monitor data quality.
 
It is important to be aware that there are some data quality issues that may impact on analysis - caution is therefore recommended when interpreting tables.
 
ISD only receive aggregate data from each of the ADAT's and it is therefore not possible for us to validate the data. Detailed questions regarding local data should be addressed to the relevant ADAT.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Elaine Parry
Senior Information Officer
Tel: 0131 275 6655
Email: elaine.parry@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Steve Pavis
Assistant Head of Group
Tel: 0131 275 6670
Email: stephen.pavis@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk


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GLOSSARY:

(1) structured preparatory & motivation intervention  - planned intervention that stabilises the client or prepares them for further interventions.  It must be structured and have agreed goal(s).

(2) prescribed drug treatment -  the prescribing of a substitute drug, (e.g. methadone, lofexidine, subutex) for facilitating the complete cessation of the use of illicit drugs, controlling withdrawal symptoms or reducing illicit drug use.

(3)community support/rehabilitation -  Interventions that have the purpose of tackling the social and psychological problems faced by the client (such as debt / benefit / relationship and family problems, relapse prevention or employability and training issues) e.g. structured day programmes, counselling, group work.

(4) residential detoxification/rehabilitation - detoxification and/or rehabilitation that involves the client being admitted to a residential facility or hospital.

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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Executive Health Department

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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:


Last Published:  19/12/06
Next Due:  26/06/07
Data Available Since:   April - September 2004

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RELATED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2006
  • Alcohol statistics (Biennial)
  • Alcohol Local profiles (Biennial)

Websites (with regular update service)
www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org.uk link opens in a new window
www.alcoholmisuse.isdscotland.org.uk link opens in a new window

National Drug Treatment Waiting Times Information Framework Report
October-December 2006 link opens in a new window

 


Main contact: Email Elaine Parry