Unmet needs
Data from the NDTMS shows an estimated rate of unmet need of drug dependent adults for North Tyneside, specifically for Opiate and/or Crack cocaine Users (OCUs). These numbers have been calculated from drug treatment numbers for 2021-22 (from: OHID. 2024. Adult Drug Commissioning Support Pack: 2023-24: Key Data) . The estimated rates of unmet need have been applied to the calculated prevalence rate of OCUs in North Tyneside to provide approximate numbers of the North Tyneside OCU population not in treatment.
| Drug Group | Rate of unmet need | North Tyneside population not in treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Crack | 63% | 191 |
| Opiates | 34% | 479 |
| OCU | 38% | 785 |
Preventing early exits from treatment so that people can benefit from the service is important to improve outcomes and reduce drug misuse. In North Tyneside, of the 422 new presentations in treatment 2021-22, 14% had an early and unplanned exit, which is a higher rate than the previous year. Historically, of the drug groups non-opiate, opiates and alcohol and non-opiates, those who use opiates had the highest early unplanned exit rate. However, in 2021-22 this changed to alcohol and non-opiates, with 16% of new presentations in this group leaving treatment (from: OHID. 2024. Adult Drug Commissioning Support Pack: 2023-24: Key Data) For most groups, the drop out percentage is higher in males than it is females, however in 2021-22 there was a significantly higher percentage of female unplanned exits for the non-opiates group.
Criminal Justice System
In 2021-22, 50% of the adults with a substance misuse treatment need successfully engaged in community-based structures treatment following release from prison. This is higher than the national proportion of 37% but is a decrease from the previous year in North Tyneside. This does mean that half of those in need are not engaging in treatment when released from prison (from: OHID. 2024. Adult Drug Commissioning Support Pack: 2023-24: Key Data).