Notice of Motion - Declaring East Sussex a County of Harm Reduction

Proposed · Someone has put this forward. Nothing has been decided.

This Notice of Motion, proposed by Councillor Dowling and seconded by Councillor Denis, asks the County Council to declare East Sussex a County of Harm Reduction, recognising the Council's existing commitment to improving health and reducing substance-related harm through evidence-based public health, treatment, recovery and partnership working with Sussex Police and other partners. p2p4

It asks that Cabinet commission an East Sussex Harm Reduction Strategy, led by the Director of Public Health, to be considered by scrutiny within twelve months. p4

It states that in 2023, East Sussex recorded 25 drug-misuse deaths and 78 alcohol-specific deaths, a combined total of 103 deaths representing a 34% increase from 2022, compared with a 9% increase nationally. p29

It states that declaring East Sussex a County of Harm Reduction would not create a new standalone service, endorse drug use, replace enforcement activity, or alter the Council's commitment to prevention, treatment and recovery. p8

Show the 4 passages this is based on

• p2MOTION WORDING The following Notice of Motion has been proposed by Councillor Dowling and seconded by Councillor Denis.
• p4This Council therefore resolves to: 1. Declare East Sussex a County of Harm Reduction, recognising the Council’s existing commitment to improving health and reducing substance-related harm through evidence-based public health, treatment, recovery and partnership working with Sussex Police and other partners. 2. Request that Cabinet commissions an East Sussex Harm Reduction Strategy, led by the Director of Public Health, working with partners and people with lived and living experience, building on the existing East Sussex From Harm to Hope Strategy, Harm to Hope Partnership Board and Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2021–2026, to be considered by scrutiny within twelve months. 3. Request that, subject to the Council’s established budgetary and decision-making processes, the strategy build on existing resources and partnership capacity, seek external funding where available and to ensure that the draft strategy addresses the scope and content set out in Appendix A. 4. Request that the strategy establish a clear baseline, measurable outcomes and reporting arrangements, including appropriate analysis by geography and population group. An interim update should be considered by scrutiny within six months from the date on which this motion is adopted, followed by presentation of the draft strategy within twelve months, by the Director of Public Health, from the date on which this motion is adopted and annual public reporting on its implementation thereafter. 5. Request that reports include progress, challenges, funding opportunities and recommendations for future action, and that relevant Council communications use non-stigmatising language and promote awareness of treatment, recovery and support services. 6.
• p8Declaring East Sussex a County of Harm Reduction would provide a strategic framework and clear public commitment to reducing preventable harm, strengthening partnership working and helping residents access support before a crisis occurs. It would not create a new standalone service, endorse drug use, replace enforcement activity or alter the Council’s commitment to prevention, treatment and recovery. Instead, it would bring these elements together within a coordinated, evidence-based approach that combines compassionate support with robust safeguarding and action against organised criminal exploitation.
• p29In 2023, East Sussex recorded 25 drug-misuse deaths and 78 alcohol-specific deaths. The combined total of 103 deaths represented an increase of 34% from 2022, compared with a 9% increase nationally. While the definition of a drug-misuse death is broad and includes some accidental medication overdoses and isolated illicit drug use, these figures demonstrate the continuing scale of preventable substance-related mortality in the county 4 .