The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today confirmed to the BBC that proposals to incentivise people to stay in drug treatment are under consideration. Under the scheme, shopping vouchers could be offered to people when tests show they are free of drugs, or if they agree to undergo tests for blood-borne viruses or other infectious diseases.
The draft proposals on the treatment of people with a drug misuse problem will shortly be open for consultation with full NHS guidance expected in the summer. While NICE accepts that the idea may be seen as controversial, it provides evidence from a number of international trials showing that the idea, often referred to as contingency management, can be an effective approach.
The vouchers would be worth up to 10 and could be used to buy groceries or cover the cost of leisure activities, such as a trip to the gym or the cinema.
The NHS advisory body suggests that the scheme would be cost-effective, encouraging people to remain in treatment through to completion and reducing drug-related crime. The organisation is also stressing the public health benefit through increased diagnosis rates for contagious diseases.
Martin Barnes, chief executive of charity DrugScope, broadly welcomed the proposals.
Arguing that the benefits to society of effective drug treatment would outweigh the cost of an incentive scheme, Barnes emphasised that this should only be seen as one component of a treatment programme. Tackling the underlying reasons why people turn to drugs should also be prioritised.
"There is good evidence that the longer someone is engaged with drug treatment the better their outcome. The cost of vouchers will be modest compared to the benefits of more effective treatment.
"However, for treatment to be most effective, the underlying factors contributing to problem drug use and relapses need to be tackled, not least decent housing, social support and routes to training and employment."
Barnes also raised concerns about the practical implementation of the scheme:
"We hope NICE will be considering how the scheme should be administered. People should not be identified as possibly being in drug treatment from the type or form of vouchers used."
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Posted: 26th January 2007
For more information please contact Ruth Goldsmith in the DrugScope Press Office on 020 7940 7517 (07736 895563 out of hours) or at press@drugscope.org.uk
