NCJ Number
201343
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2003 Pages: 251-262
Date Published
August 2003
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the influence and outcome of government-prompted collaboration among agencies responsible for commissioning drug services for young people.
Abstract
In the United Kingdom, the government has put forth a vision of health care that promotes the collaboration of agencies involved in delivering health care needs, including drug rehabilitation services, to the country’s youth. The goal of the paper is to describe the way in which the government recommendations concerning commissioning practices for youth drug services are reflected in the actual practices of the agencies. The authors also explore how the commissioning process works to meet the current and future needs of drug addicted youth. A case-study methodology was employed to gain information about commissioning practices; methods included 20 unstructured interviews with personnel from all agencies involved with youth services, documentary analysis, and a participate observation of 3 formal committee meetings. Findings revealed that an overriding emphasis of commissioning practices was on the process of the commissioning rather than the outcome of the commissioning decision. Perhaps contributing to this problem is the fact that agencies lack readily available research data on which to base policy. The author recommends that a multi-agency strategy be agreed upon by all involved agencies and that mechanisms for monitoring commissioning practices and outcomes be implemented. Notes, references