Problem solving our way to justice

This presentation reports findings from the mid-term evaluation of the two-year pilot Alcohol and Drug Problem Solving Court (ADPSC) operating out of Hamilton Sheriff Court, between December 2023-December 2025, and overseen by South Lanarkshire (SL) Justice Social Work (JSW). Scotland remains drug death capital of Europe. Determined to tackle the problem, adhering to the 2023 national mission statement, SL JSW, working in partnership with Hamilton Sheriff Court (HSC) and third sector organisations, adopted a blended statutory and third sector service provision to best utilise collaboration efforts to provide service users with a public health, trauma-informed strategy, taking a whole system approach to aiding recovery-oriented treatment. The workshop presents findings from the mid-term report capturing the views and experiences of 24 participants involved. The sample included SL JSW social workers, support workers, nurse, service users, service user family members, and sheriffs. Findings are overwhelmingly positive with data indicating the ADPSC to be making positive contributions to the wider criminal justice system.