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Quality standard for drug use disorders.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
[UK] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2012.
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Official UK quality standards on the treatment of adults for problems related to the use of illegal drugs, intended be used to plan and deliver services to provide the best possible care.
Summary This official UK quality standard covers the treatment of adults for problems related to the use of opioids, cannabis, stimulants or other drugs in all settings in which care is received. It describes aspirational, but achievable, markers of high-quality, cost-effective care which, when delivered collectively, should contribute to improving the effectiveness, safety and experience of care for people with drug use disorders. While not mandatory, quality standards can be used to plan and deliver services to provide the best possible care. This quality standard has been incorporated into the NICE pathway for drug misuse, a flow chart diagramming assessment and subsequent treatment options.
List of quality statements
• People who inject drugs have access to needle and syringe programmes in accordance with NICE guidance.• People in drug treatment are offered a comprehensive assessment.
• Families and carers of people with drug use disorders are offered an assessment of their needs.
• People accessing drug treatment services are offered testing and referral for treatment for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV and vaccination for hepatitis B.
• People in drug treatment are given information and advice about the following treatment options: harm-reduction, maintenance, detoxification and abstinence.
• People in drug treatment are offered appropriate psychosocial interventions by their keyworker.
• People in drug treatment are offered support to access services that promote recovery and reintegration including housing, education, employment, personal finance, healthcare and mutual aid.
• People in drug treatment are offered appropriate formal psychosocial interventions and/or psychological treatments.
• People who have achieved abstinence are offered continued treatment or support for at least six months.
• People in drug treatment are given information and advice on the NICE eligibility criteria for residential rehabilitative treatment.
Last revised 25 November 2016. First uploaded 25 November 2016
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