'Big Society' Research into
Drug Treatment in Cardiff

2011-12-12 Recovery

Research by CRI and Cardiff University's pioneering Universities' Police Science Institute (UPSI) has produced valuable insights into the links between drug treatment services and reductions in crime and the social damage caused by drug misuse in and around Cardiff.

The 'Big Society and Drug Treatment' project analysed anonymised data collected by CRI's Drug Interventions Project in Cardiff. Researchers assessed the quality and usefulness of data and methods of data collection. Non-statistical data, such as file notes written by project workers about service user's criminal activity and emotional state, was included in the analysis. The data was also compared with information held by a range of service delivery partners including, police, probation, community organisation, health providers and academics.

The 'Big Society' research demonstrated a direct correlation between clients successfully completing drug treatment and their improved social functioning and reduced criminal activity.

Mark Moody, CRI Director, said: "CRI places great importance on evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and this research shows that drug treatment works."

The project confirmed that data gathered by drug projects and statutory services has huge value to those looking at the design and delivery of services. For example, it was found that the majority of CRI's service users in Cardiff live in a few of the most vulnerable and deprived areas of the city. This finding clearly indicates where drug intervention and economic programmes should be targeted to achieve the greatest impact on problematic drug use.

The 'Big Society and Drug Treatment' research project was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)/Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Connected Communities Programme.

Seema Khistaria

Sign up to our newsletter

Be the first to hear our news. Enter your email address below.