Evaluation of North Lanarkshire Justice Social Work involvement in the Pan-Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Problem Solving Court

Overview Notwithstanding natural ebbs and flow, over the last decade drug deaths in Scotland have continued to rise year on year. Scotland has now consistently had the highest drug death rate in Europe (Scottish Government, 2022). In 2021, then Scottish Government First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, announced a new national mission to reduce drug deaths and harms. Contributing to the national mission a Pan-Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Problem Solving Court (ADPSC) was established. This allows for both North and South Justice Services to refer equal numbers (n=4) of suitable persons per calendar month for consideration of Structure Deferred Sentences (SDS), according to their respective local authorities.

Although the ADPSC operates a Pan-Lanarkshire service, SL JSW was awarded funding from the Scottish Government Drugs Mission Fund administered via the Corra Foundation. Resultingly, SL JSW opted for a collaborative approach to treatment and recovery, involving sustained partnership with Hamilton Sheriff Court (HSC), NHS Scotland, and third sector organisations. NL JSW funding for the project is more limited: allocated directly from the NL Alcohol and Drug Partnership (APD) fund and the Scottish Government S27 grant fund. Resultingly, NL JSW operate on more limited financial budget. Referral and recovery involvement is solely overseen by NL JSW centralised Throughcare and Recovery Team (TRT). Within the TRT there are several sub-units. One sub-unit, the SDS Team, are the specialised team for the ADPSC service users. The SDS Team consists of 1 senior social worker and 2 support workers. This evaluation report presents findings from NL JSW involvement in the two-year pilot ADPSC operating from December 2023-December 2025.