Councillors urged to save lauded Drug and Alcohol Project Limited

Fife councillors have been urged to save the threatened Drug and Alcohol Project Limited (DAPL) when the health and social care partnership meets on August 25.

When it last met the Fife Council committee deferred a decision on controversial plans that would see funding for the project and other local support organisations for drugs and alcohol misuse stopped, with grants instead directed at national bodies.

If Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership’s (ADP) funding proposal is given the go-ahead, DAPL would fold.

Funding is already drying up and six of the 31-strong team based in Levenmouth are set to be made redundant at the end of this month.

In his letter to councillors, project manager Robert Grant highlights the work of DAPL’s street referral service, which has earned praise from Scottish ministers and a Fife drug court sheriff for its innovative approach to tackling underage drinking.

Mr Grant wrote, “DAPL have been providing a very effective street referral early intervention for young people in partnership with Fife Constabulary for over four years.

“DAPL have seen an increase in referrals from our partners in Fife Constabulary over the past months and we have grave concerns over how these vulnerable young people and their families will be supported whilst the ADP are deciding on funding.

“The ADP could not give me or other service managers a clear direction to what if any contingency plans they have in place for supporting any transition or withdrawal from service provision.”

Mr Grant said DAPL had also been working with NHS Fife to carry out urgent “triage” assessments to determine how someone with a substance misuse problem can be best supported by services.