A large number of people are being helped to break away their problem of drug misuse though DIP. DIP helps in linking the criminal justice system with the healthcare and treatment system in the UK. In order to ensure its proper functioning, the DIP team is made up of mixture of individuals; some of whom are experienced in provision of criminal justice services and where as others in provision of drug treatment services (Home Office, 2007).
For proper implementation and functioning of the DIP, the Home office works in partnership with a number of other bodies. These includes the DOH, NTA, DAT and D (A) AT, police, prison, probation services, criminal justice and courts (Home office, 2007). The program at central level is controlled by the Police and Crime Standards Directorate (PCSD) of the Home Office. At the local level the drug treatment services are co-ordinated by special bodies called Drug and Alcohol Action team Partnerships (D (A) ATS) and Drug Action teams (DAT).
Drug action teams are partnerships combining representatives from local authorities (education, social services, and housing) health, probation, the prison service and the voluntary sector (Home Office, 2007). The DATs work in close partnership with CDRPs (crime and drug reduction partnerships) and basically work on four things namely, the treatment of drug abuse, helping young people overcome their problem of drug abuse, monitoring and reporting their performance and communicating their plans and activities to the government and other partners.
Though some interventions of DIP have been implemented all over England and Wales, some additional interventions of DIP called ‘intensive DIP elements’ have been specially implemented in areas with high rates of crime. DIP benefits both the offender and the community. The drug abusing offender is able to get help through treatment and rehabilitation. On the other hand, the communities become safer places to live as the rates of crime are reduced. The treatment strategy through DIP has been found to be quite cost-effective because for every ? 1 spent on treatment, there is a net saving of at least ?
9. 50 due to reduction in crime and health care costs (Home Office, 2007). This is so as treatment of individuals with substance use disorders help in further breaking the relationship between substance use disorders and the incidence of violence and crime in the society (Home Office, 2007). The treatment of drug abusing offenders usually comprise of social, psychological and pharmacological approaches. Besides treatment with drugs, other factors which help in supporting rehabilitation of such individuals are provision of social support, housing facilities etc.
An important factor preventing the easy access towards these treatment services is the long waiting periods in the treatment centers (Home Office, 2007). The NTA in partnership with National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) have developed a program aimed towards reducing the waiting times in the treatment centers (Home Office, 2007). The DIP program aims at offering treatment to the individual from point of arrest to the point beyond his release from imprisonment into the community. The continuity of care is achieved with help of throughcare and Aftercare program (Home Office, 2007).