Alec has welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care's announcement of an extra £421 million for local authorities to improve drug and alcohol addiction treatment - an increase of 40% nationally.
Leeds City Council will receive nearly £13 million in extra funding, an increase of 65% to their previous budget for substance misuse and recovery.
The funding will enable local authorities to recruit over 50,000 more support staff in drug and alcohol clinics, improve access to overdose medicines, provide more support to prison leavers into treatment and recovery, and to invest in enhancing the quality of treatment provided. It is predicted that this funding will prevent 1,000 drug related deaths by the end of 2024.
Commenting, Alec said, "Drug misuse has a massive impact on society and individuals. It is right that the government is investing in treatment and support to tackle this problem. It is now incumbent on Labour-run Leeds City Council to get this funding to those who need it most".
