Substance abuse can be regarded as a major persisting issue in several developed as well as developing countries. A patterned use of drugs and other substances such as alcohol is commonly referred to as substance abuse. The term is prevalently used with a varying number of definitions in contexts related to criminal justice, public health as well as in the medical aspect. Substance misuse or abuse can be linked to the use of substances such as cannabis, cocaine, opioids, alcohol and more. The project to be discussed in this report focuses primarily on delivering a provision of public health support through this project. The project aims at rendering services to the local community in Durham, North East England. The statistics for substance misuse have been reported to be one of the highest in regions of North East England. To raise adequate funds for the project, a business plan is developed to cater to the community better.
The project that is the prime focus of the report aims at eradicating or to a particular extent; provide relief to the community about certain social evils. The organization involved in facilitating the project is located at County Durham, one of the three largest cities in North East England, which is regarded as one of nine official regions of England (Nutt, 2018). According to several statistics obtained from the Government of UK, it has been noted that the percentage of substance misuse is recorded to be the highest in the region of North East England. The commotion concerning the particular issue has reached a high as this region is also dubbed as the ‘drug capital of England.’ A 13% increase in the deaths related to substance misuse has been noted in the region since 2015 (Trudeau et al. 2016). The official statistics illustrate that the number of deaths from the year 2014 to 2016 has been recorded to be 532. Furthermore, the number of deaths recorded 10 years before has been found to be 283 (Gov.UK, 2018).
Illustrates the percentage of substance abuse prevalent among the various regions of England. It is evident from the figure that North East England remains the highest substance misusing region or locality. An official statement had been issued to promote awareness among the youth regarding substance misuse and provide guidance towards a better future. It was stated that the death toll had risen to a significant 77.4 deaths for every 1 million population (Gov.UK, 2018). The project aims at promoting and developing awareness among the youth at risk of substance abuse. However, it may be stated in this context that to generate adequate funding, the organization aims at developing a business plan to draw in more funders and sponsors willing to donate and undertake the cause.
The community that the project primarily aims at catering comprises a dominant percentage of 93.6% of White British people, while the rest of the population was found to comprise other ethnic groups, such as Asian, Mixed and more (Gov.UK, 2018). It may be stated in this regards that the increasing number of deaths related to substance abuse has proven to be a major challenge for the community in Durham. Figure 2 exhibits the percentage of alcohol-related deaths in England, wherein North East England is observed to be the highest, demonstrating a 15.1% of every1,00,000 attributed to alcohol abuse, in the year 2014 (Monaghan, 2014).
The community in and around Durham is not densely populated reaching an approximate number of 5,13,000 in the year 2011 (Gov.UK, 2018). The rate of substance misuse has been a massive problem. Furthermore, with the aid of the project, the development of awareness as well as the control of the issues is expected to be achieved. The lack of employment facilities is estimated to be the prime cause of the challenge noted. Moreover, the project aims at transforming into a social enterprise, to effectively deal with the issues. Therefore, the funding, which the project aims at a gathering, is to be used to provide a community with a better future, with better scopes of employment and to develop awareness of substance misuse as well as its impacts on individuals and society (Li et al. 2017).
The internal performance of the project can be widely attributed to the efforts of the internal as well as external stakeholders. To raise funds, the project requires having a primary set of goals or objectives to be followed. Firstly, developing campaigns to generate funds have been prioritized for the project. It is to be taken into account that planning and monitoring of the actions, is undertaken by the manager and the employees function diligently to keep up with the project goals. In addition to that, compliance with the laws and regulations are maintained and monitored to gain better funding options. According to several government publications, that a return of £2.50 has been gathered for every £1 invested for the cause (Winstock et al. 2017). The cause has often been related to poor mental as well as physical health. Hence, proceeding with the treatment and providing the facilities for the treatment is undertaken as another plan for gathering funds and sponsors for the project. Better internal performance of the employees would lead to better outcomes, which may aid in the progress of the project towards a social enterprise as well.
It is to be noted that a CEA or a Cost-effectiveness analysis is performed to evaluate the cost effectiveness and the returns on investing (Shapiro, 2016). Though the public health policy aims at catering and contributing to the interests of the public, it is essential to gather funds, resources, and provisions for helping the community. Hence, the development of a business plan, which includes the formulation of policies to promote employment, and treatment facilities, is to be undertaken. The internal performance of the organization or the project stakeholders are to be done in compliance with and highlighting the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which outlines the ban on the possession, usage, supply, manufacture, export and import of controlled drugs, unless a license is issued by the Secretary of State (Hussong et al. 2015).
The future trends that can be calculated from the former statistical data gathered from government authorities indicate that the issue of substance misuse and death is on a consistent rise. The lifestyle and the issues related to the particular age group from 16 to 25 is found to be a direct outcome of education systems, unemployment rates, homelessness and even poor physical as well as mental state of the individuals (Kerwin et al. 2015). It is to be noted that as a result of the hectic schedules, attention from parents and family may be effective in addressing the issue. However, there are certain cases of substance abuse in the family of some individuals, which may inadvertently lead the individuals towards substance misuse. Figure 3 represents a rising trend in substance abuse, highlighting the beginning of substance abuse. It is observed that substance misuse primarily begins through the teenage years because of educational failures and even depression, bullying, and other social or personal causes.
Furthermore, with passing age, it is noted that the factors facilitating substance misuse may change to unemployment, homelessness, and even depression (Csete et al. 2016). However, the trend of beginning substance abuse to prevalent through the teenage years. Additionally, the abuse of prescription drugs as well as other substances are noted to be the fastest growing challenge faced by the UK.
The project aims at developing certain policies, which may aid in the achievement of the social goals set. The development of campaigns for promoting mental health awareness is considered to be a vital strategy for the project. In addition to that, the project aims at creating an outreach programme for the addicts or the individuals involved in substance abuse to help them with the better life. The strategies furthermore, aim at building a therapeutic alliance with the affected individuals of the community.
Moreover, the development of motivational techniques through the policies formulated under the project is considered. The strategic aims or planning is the prime focal point for the sponsors. Generating revenue or sufficient funding would require the proposition of activities, which would prove fruitful in the end for the overall stakeholders of the project (Handley et al. 2016).
In addition to the aforementioned strategies, the project aims at facilitating programmes discussion sessions to deal with the addiction issues. It has been noted that because of the lifestyle and current issues faced by individuals of the age group 16-25, the development of substance abuse becomes consistent. Hence, motivating these individuals through education and employment scopes is also planned. Contracts with local organizations and firms for the recruitment of these individuals are also planned. Therefore, the objectives of the public health policy highlight not only the welfare of the social enterprise planned through this project but also ensure the certain welfare of the individuals of the community (Sadler et al. 2015). The strategies devised for the project aimed at eradicating the issue by resolving the root of the problem. The issues, which affect and result in substance misuse, are identified, and potential solutions for the problems are incorporated into the policies and strategies to maximize the effort.
The resources, which are crucial for establishing the stability of the public health policy, require funding, which may be regarded as the chief resource in this case. Moreover, dedicated employees and volunteers who are a part of the project and may even be regarded as internal stakeholders in this aspect are the chief resources (Rodway et al. 2016). A budget has been prepared to demonstrate to the sponsor’s funders regarding the financial concerns, and cost segregation is, therefore, provided.
|
Activity |
Approximate cost |
|
Outreach program |
£ 6,000 |
|
The mental health awareness campaign |
£ 5,000 |
|
Educational, motivational programme |
£ 3,500 |
|
Homelessness eradication |
£ 8,000 |
|
Provision for physical and mental treatment |
£ 10,000 |
|
Employment aid programmes |
£ 4,000 |
|
Provision for group therapy |
£ 2,500 |
|
Total fund required |
£ 40,000 |
As per the budget illustrated in Table 1, the various campaigns and programmes planned as a part of the public health program are mentioned. In addition to that, the financial requirements for undertaking the various campaigns mentioned have been discussed, which adds up to the overall funds to be gathered. It may be mentioned in this regards that the provisions and resources required for each of the campaigns and programmes are to utilize the fund raised. For instance, it may be noted that the Homelessness eradication would require supplying the affected population with food, shelter and other necessary provisions, which would entail a significant sum of money. Furthermore, other campaigns such as mental and physical treatment for substance abuse would require funding for the rehabilitation facilities (Healey et al. 2014). In addition to that, the motivational techniques and therapy sessions also entail the involvement of significant costs to recur for the project.
In order to devise proper plans to both reduce the amount of substance abuse by the people of age group of 16 to 25 and to employ the use of those plans to earn funds from probable investors, we first need to understand the area where the abuse is taking place in abundance (Jarrett et al. 2018). Most of the places in England show an elevated level of the use of drugs by the population involving mostly young people. The young generation is committing suicides as well in an alarming rate and is getting affected with various mental diseases, which are forcing them to use the drugs to cope with their deteriorated conditions of living. As stated above, Durham has seen a rapid increase in substance abuse due to the unavailability of jobs for a long time which is making the young people frustrated and desperate as well (Jarrett et al. 2018). Therefore, the community has to evolve as a whole and take responsibility for the situation by supporting the group concerned about the development of public health and funding their cause.
The plans, which can be incorporated, to help the young generation and to improve the community can be done in various ways (Graham et al. 2015). The business plan, which needs formulation, can be based on the various government projects, which are present to help the young people. They can even consider campaigning about the misuse of drugs and how can the drug-free life be profitable for normal people. These campaigns can be carried out in different locations of the community and can consider different ethnicities or cultures or religions present in that part one at a time.
They can develop prevention services from the misuse of drugs and can carry the services around for the young people to join (AlRashidi et al. 2016). They can even join forces with the people of the community, especially the younger generation and carry on treatments and therapies for them. Young people have to be engaged in the formation of these plans so that they can better understand the future implications of their habit. They have to be trained collaboratively along with the previous users who have been able to let go of their abusing drug habits to know what changes will come their way. Support and awareness have to be incorporated so that these young people are aware of the hardships they will face from their social, personal, as well as professional life if they do not evolve from their stupor (AlRashidi et al. 2016). Lack of proper education related to drugs and their consequences have to be mitigated as well. Issues related to social exclusion of a certain group of people, which leads to the question of justice and injustice have to be addressed along with the safety of the community, local democracy, and public health (Graham et al. 2015). When the plan, which will be formed, can help to build a healthy and confident society, the community and its younger generation will be free from drugs.
Methods for the implementation of the action plan require thorough planning for the program. Since the public health program aims at undertaking campaigns and other relevant programmes, first, gathering the necessary funding is crucial to the program (Herbert et al. 2015). To discuss the methods for the overall program, the strategies and displaying the campaigns under this particular public health program for gathering sponsors for the project entails the foremost step. Firstly, the outreach program is aimed at providing the facilities, which the youth of the community in Durham lack. For instance, the provision for counseling depression, which can be considered to be one of the primary causes for substance misuse, requires setting up a camp. In addition to that, the diagnosis from expert medical personnel is required as well. Workshops may be set for undertaking and efficiently executing this campaign. Furthermore, arranging for medical camps and facilities may be regarded as a part of the outreach program considered (Taylor et al. 2017).
The mental health awareness can be developed through schools, which may target individuals within the age group of 16-25 who are likely to be at risk and are susceptible to be a victim of substance misuse. Furthermore, developing campaigns and setting up public awareness programmes through digital media may also prove beneficial. Often individuals of this age group become susceptible to substance abuse because of not receiving help. Furthermore, since a certain percentage of the individuals belonging to the 16-25 age groups are involved in receiving education, spreading the word through schools may prove fruitful. Furthermore, educational, motivational programmes can be effectively promoted through schools, colleges, and universities. The homelessness eradication programme, however, requires thorough attention and considerations. For instance, a routine check-up on family history of substance abuse, as well as a history of mental illnesses and addiction-related issues are to be identified for susceptible individuals (Jayne and Valentine, 2017).
In addition to that, facilities for providing shelter, food, and necessary medical supplies are to be arranged by the public health program. Furthermore, increasing scopes for employability through improving and motivating the population towards education may indirectly add to the improvement of the community. Moreover, contracting with certain local organisations to employ the youth and promoting their organizations through arranging for training sessions may yield beneficial results (Luthar et al. 2018). Additionally, it may be noted that the arranging for group therapy sessions to deal with trauma, depression and other issues, which may lead to instability, would also focus on gaining improvement for the public health program devised.
Conclusion
This report focuses on the rising challenge faced by developing as well as developing economies regarding substance abuse. The indulgence of the youth of England, ranging from the age group 16-25 is considered in this report. It was found that North East England had the highest records of substance misuse records prevalent among teenagers and individuals in their early 20s. Furthermore, the public health policy discussed in this report focuses on the community-based in Durham County in North East England. The prevalence of substance misuse is proposed to be tackled through the implementation of the plans and policies discussed in this study.
Furthermore, a budget for the fund to be raised has been presented. The budget outlines the various campaigns and sub-programs to be undertaken within the public health program along with the financial requirements for each of them. In addition to that, records have been provided which demonstrates that substance misuse begins at the early ages of 12-13 and is found to be widely prevalent among 16-25-year-old individuals. The causes of the substance misuse prevalence have been found to be depression, a history of mental illness or drug abuse, as well as unemployment and educational failures.
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