Merthyr Tydfil Local Service Board - Single
Integrated Plan for Merthyr Tydfil
Report Card - Substance Misuse
People enjoy a vibrant, attractive,
safe and sustainable place in
which to live, work, play and visit.
Priority Lead – Beverly Owen & Nicola John
Delivery mechanism – Cwm Taf Area
Planning Board
Date presented to the LSB - 30 January 2014
PRIORITY AREA AND OUTCOME
Substance Misuse
A community where the harm caused by the misuse of drugs and alcohol is
minimised
What do we know?
Impact on health

The Welsh Health Survey (2010 and 2011 combined) indicated that 43% of adults in
Merthyr Tydfil binge drink which has decreased to 40% for 2011/12.

In 2011/12 Merthyr Tydfil had the highest rate for alcohol referrals and the second
highest rate of referrals for drug misuse in Wales.

Hospital admission rates due to alcohol are higher in Cwm Taf than for Wales as a
whole. Between 2007 and 2009, Merthyr Tydfil had the highest rate of alcohol
attributable admissions to hospital for males, and the second highest rate for females.
Between 2003 and 2007 110 deaths (70 men and 40 women) per year in Cwm Taf
were caused by alcohol.
Alcohol, Substance Misuse and Young People

18 % of young people aged between 11-15 in Cwm Taf, reported drinking one or more
alcoholic drinks at least weekly compared to Welsh average of 16%. Within this Health
Board area the percentage of boys and girls were equal.

10% of respondents (7% boys, 13% girls) reported being drunk at least 4 times
compared to a Welsh average of 12%

8% of all respondents in Cwm Taf aged between 11 and 16 have used drugs in the
last 12 months compared to a Welsh average of 9%
Source: Health Behaviour in School aged Children Survey (HBSC) 2010
Impact on Community Safety & Public Perception

35.1% of respondents in Merthyr Tydfil in the said that drug use / drug dealing was a
very big /fairly big problem in their area which has decreased from 36% in the 2012
survey.

The percentage of people who perceive drunk/rowdy behaviour to be a fairly / very big
problem in their local area has reduced significantly this year in comparison to last
year. Merthyr has seen a decrease of 8.2%.
Source: 2013 Police Community Satisfaction Survey

In 2011, Police data showed that 48% of all violence with injury offences in Merthyr
Tydfil were alcohol related. In the eight months up to March 2012, 31% of all ASB
referrals in Merthyr Tydfil were alcohol related. 58% of all referrals to Teulu MAC
(support for domestic abuse victims) involved alcohol misuse.
Story behind the data

The most commonly misused substance in Merthyr Tydfil is alcohol.

New Psychoactive Substances such as Mephedrone, (also known as “meow meow” or
MCAT), has become more popular in Wales than anywhere else in Britain. Between
April and June of 2012, the number of offences which involved the drug in Wales
increased by 165% compared to the same period in 2011.

Based on data from the Welsh Substance Misuse database (2011-2013) the typical
person with substance misuse problems presenting for treatment in Merthyr Tydfil is
British, male, aged between 30-39, and predominantly has problems with alcohol.

The influence of alcohol, illegal drugs and new and emerging drugs (what we currently
know of them) is a factor that cuts across a number of different areas that include
domestic abuse, violent crime, anti-social behaviour, health (including unwanted
pregnancies), stranger violence and impacting on the night-time economy but to name
a few.

Alcohol related liver disease, alcohol related deaths and other alcohol attributable
illnesses are increasing (Public Health data) and there is often also a direct correlation
between individuals and families presenting with other issues of vulnerability.

High incidence of co-occurring substance misuse and mental health issues

Harm reduction is important to reduce the spread of blood borne viruses, alcohol
related chronic health conditions, related hospital admissions and drug related deaths
within our communities.

The estimated cost of alcohol and Class A drug misuse to the Welsh economy is £2
billion a year.
How are we measuring success - "Turning the Curve" Our population
measures.
Going Down ↓↓
1. % of adults who drink above recommended guidelines.
Adults who reported consuming alcohol above guidelines 2003-12
Produced by Cwm Taf Public Health Team, using WHS (WG) data
% consuming above guidlines
60
50
40
30
Rhondda Cynon
Taf
20
Merthyr Tydfil
10
0
2003/5
2004/6
2005/7
2007/8
2008/9
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
2. % of adults who report as binge drinking in preceding week.
Welsh Health Survey September 2013.
Percentage of adults reporting binge drinking fell to 27 % for 2011/12 from 29% in 2010/11
Percentage of adults reporting drinking above the recommended daily guidelines 40% for
2011/12 down from 43% in 2010/11
Adults who reported binge drinking of alcohol 2003/05-2011/12
% Adults who reported binge drinking
Produced by Cwm Taf Public Health Team, using WHS (WG) data
35
30
25
20
Rhondda Cynon Taf
15
Merthyr Tydfil
10
Wales
5
0
2003/5
2004/6
2005/7
2007/8
2008/9
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
3. % of alcohol / drug related hospital Admissions & Referrals
400
350
Rate per 100,000
300
250
Referral & admissions
for Alcohol
and drugs 2012/13
200
Referral & Admission
Numbers for drugs
Referral & Admission
Numbers for Alochol
150
100
50
0
Referral & Admission Numbers Referral & Admission Numbers
for drugs
for Alochol
244 people were referred/admitted for drug related conditions in Merthyr Tydfil in 2012/13
358 people were referred/admitted for alcohol related conditions in Merthyr Tydfil in
2012/13
2012/13: persons referred for treatment for drug-related conditions per 100,000
in Merthyr was 414 compared to 229 per 100,000 for Wales
4. % of alcohol / drug attributable deaths
100.0
Deaths(per
million)
2007-09
% of alcohol / drug attributable deaths
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
Deaths (per
million)
2010-12
Isle of Anglesey
Gwynedd
Conwy
Denbighshire
Flintshire
Wrexham
Ceredigion
Pembrokeshire
Carmarthenshire
Swansea
Neath Port Talbot
Bridgend
The Vale of Glamorgan
Cardiff
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Caerphilly
Blaenau Gwent
Torfaen
Monmouthshire
Newport
Powys
Merthyr Tydfil
0.0
Our Local Performance Indicators (where appropriate)
Drug and alcohol awareness sessions for young people: 18 drug and alcohol
awareness sessions were provided, with 145 young people receiving training
Extended alcohol brief intervention programme: 134 new individuals commenced an
extended alcohol brief intervention programme - 120 were closed with treatment complete
% alcohol related incidents of Anti Social Behaviour – 22% compared to target of 20%
Treatment Outcomes / Waiting Times:





% Did Not Attend post assessment – Q1 19%, Q2 – 27.8% compared to a quarterly
target of 23%
Achieve a waiting time of no more than 20 days between referral and treatment – Q1:
97%; Q2: 98% compared to a quarterly target of 100%
No of cases closed as treatment completed: Q1:67%; Q2: 62.30% compared to a
quarterly target of 75%
No% reporting a reduction in their substance misuse: Q1: 57.50;% Q2: 47.60%
No% reporting an improvement in quality of life: Q1: 57.40 Q2: 52.80%
(NB:No baseline data or target available for the last two PIS’s as this has only been collected since
April 2013)
Key partners
Cwm Taf Area Planning Board Partners: Health, MTCBC, RCTCBC, SW Police,
Probation, Prison Service, Service Providers
Actions - What are we going to do?
Actions
By who
Progress
RAG Status
Figures Below from
01/04/13 –
30/09/2013 :
Launch The Primary Care
Drug and Alcohol Service DASPA
Undertake a review of
Secondary Care drug and
alcohol services
Service
launched: 960
contacts from
professionals and
service users,
with all receiving
triage
assessments
resulting in 914
onward referrals
to the appropriate
agency within
one working day.
Review has
commenced.
Review
questionnaires
have been sent
Green
Green??
Introduce Designated Public
Protection Orders where
appropriate.
Manage and police the Night
Time Economy to target
alcohol-related issues in the
town centre.
to Providers to
complete.
Once this
information has
been submitted
to
Commissioners,
review panels will
take place early
2014.
Survey work has
been undertaken,
pictorial evidence
and data has
been collated and
signatures from
relevant business
owners have
been collected; a
report will be
presented to
Council for
approval of the
DPPO early 2014
SW Police
supported by
partner agencies
have targeted
temporal
hotspots such as
the Autumn
Rugby
Internationals,
Christmas and
New Year, with
further work
planned for the
Six Nations
events.
December also
saw the launch of
the Business
Improvement
District /
Community
Safety ‘Safe
Place to
Socialise’
Campaign,
which focuses on
the promotion of
safe and sensible
drinking and
socialising.
Green
Green
Review and improve
community prescribing
provision.
A review of
needle exchange
provision in the
community has
been completed,
which included
provision in
pharmacies.
Recommendation
s from this review
are to be
implemented
through the
needle exchange
group.
Green
Successes to date - including any case studies (if appropriate)

DASPA launched; 960 contacts from professionals and service users,

Extended Alcohol Brief Intervention Programme delivered; 134 individuals enrolled 120 closed with treatment complete
Challenges, blockages, barriers,
Funding decisions from WG frequently delayed causing uncertainty for service providers
and a threat to capital projects.
Substance misuse funding continues to decline year on year.
DECISIONS REQUIRED FROM THE LOCAL SERVICE BOARD