Substance abuse services

Assessment objective

The main question of the assessment was whether substance abuse services have been developed in accordance with the City Strategy and budget. For this, it was examined whether methods involving harm reduction and treatment have been developed in parallel in the treatment of substance abuse problems, whether low-threshold substance abuse services have been increased, whether the client experience has improved in services targeted at people with substance abuse problems and whether mental health and substance abuse services have strengthened their treatment consultation, assessment and guidance support for other social services and health care operators.

Conclusions

Substance abuse services have been developed in accordance with the City Strategy and budget objectives during the strategy period that began in 2017. Methods involving harm reduction and treatment have been developed in parallel in the treatment of substance abuse problems. Low-threshold substance abuse services have been increased. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has postponed the development of treatment and operations at substance abuse outpatient clinics and the Youth Station planned for 2020. Based on the assessment, city residents and operators in need of substance abuse services are not at present receiving adequate and up-to-date information on, for example, treatment locations, service options, treatment paths and contact information. According to the partners, substance abuse outpatient clinics and the Youth Station do not invest enough in motivating patients to commit to treatment. Child welfare services would particularly like for the services of substance abuse outpatient clinics to be developed regarding the cooperation related to substance abuse assessment in such a way that child welfare employees and family members of the person with substance abuse problems are more involved in the substance abuse assessment process.