Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnership
In June 2022 the Government launched its drug strategy From Harm to Hope: a 10 year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives. This strategy was developed on the back of a two-part review undertaken by Dame Carol Black.
As part of this strategy every area in England has been tasked with setting up a partnership that will be responsible for delivering the outcomes of the strategy in a way that is best suited to its population.
In Norfolk this is called NDAP, the Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Partnership. It is made up of a wide range of organisations and services which have come together to improve outcomes for people with substance misuse problems.
The national strategy has three priority areas:
- Break drug supply chains
- Deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system
- Reduce the demand for recreational drugs
In Norfolk, we also recognise the impact that alcohol misuse can have on local people, which is why our local partnership covers both drugs and alcohol.
Substance misuse has profound and wide-ranging impacts on people’s wellbeing, their quality and length of life, on the social dynamics in families and communities, on the health and justice systems, and on the economy. Recreational substance use, even at a level associated with low risk to one’s own health, can have strong negative impacts on society through crime, violence and exploitation.
Based on applying rates from national surveys in 2021/22 to Norfolk: Around 44,000 individuals aged 16-59 took a drug. Around 13,000 people took a Class A drug such as heroin, methadone, cocaine or ecstasy. Cannabis is by far the most used drug overall. Nationally, data shows that there was a decrease in Class A drug use in the most recent years. Drug misuse typically affects younger people more than older people.
Around 190,000 adults in Norfolk drank more than the recommended maximum number of weekly units. Nationally, there is a continued trend towards drinking less in young people.
Health outcomes are worse in more deprived areas of Norfolk, and risk factors which increase people’s vulnerabilities are more prevalent in the most deprived areas, which are predominantly urban. Many people with substance misuse problems have mental ill health and vice versa, and co-existing misuse of multiple substances is common. Groups particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of substance misuse include certain ethnic minority groups, homeless people, sex workers and people that have been in contact with the Criminal Justice System.
Children and young people are vulnerable to negative impacts of substance misuse. Substance use is associated with riskier behaviours, and early onset of substance use may lead to problematic use later in life. Risk factors such as parental substance misuse, school exclusion, childhood trauma and poor mental health may also increase the chances of substance misuse in young people. They may also be at risk of exploitation through County Lines activity. Overall, issues relating to substance misuse tend to be lower for young people in Norfolk compared to the national average.
Specialised treatment can improve health and social outcomes of those with drug and alcohol issues. In Norfolk, around 4,400 adults are in structured substance misuse treatment. It is estimated that this represents around half of all adults with a treatment need for opiate and/or crack cocaine dependency, and around one in five of all adults with an alcohol treatment need.
In the last five years, the proportion of Norfolk residents who are in treatment for opiate misuse has shown a decreasing trend, whereas the number of those seeking help for non-opiate and alcohol misuse has increased. Compared to the England average, relatively more treatment users mention problematic alcohol use.
The early phases of the Covid-19 pandemic appear to have resulted in more high-risk drinking. Fewer social interactions probably resulted in less substance use in young people during lockdowns. Early survey data indicates a return to pre-pandemic behaviours, but the long-term effects can’t yet be understood.
Norfolk drug and alcohol partnership governance structure as of January 2026
List of NDAP stakeholders:
- Norfolk County Council, including Public Health
- Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
- Norfolk Constabulary
- Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
- Norfolk Community Safety Partnership
- District and Borough Councils
- National Probation Service
- HM Prison Service
- Department of Work and Pensions
- Voluntary Norfolk
- NHS England
- Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board
- Change, Grow, Live
- The Matthew Project
- Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust
NDAP’s priorities for 2026–27 focus on improving safety, wellbeing, and outcomes across Norfolk. These priorities span our three core pillars and reflect the challenges and opportunities facing our communities.
1. Embedding the voice of lived experience
We are committed to ensuring that people with lived experience are represented at every level of our partnership.
Our work includes ongoing focus groups, recovery community support, and plans to expand involvement through events and wider engagement.
2. Improving outcomes for people with complex needs
We are strengthening our multiagency approach to better understand and respond to the needs of people facing multiple disadvantages.
This includes targeted work on the barriers experienced by women, particularly around late engagement and menopause related challenges.
3. Responding to emerging drug trends
Drug use trends continue to evolve, and we are enhancing our response to risks such as ketamine and synthetic opioids.
Partnership training, new campaigns, and improved clinical pathways are already underway, alongside planning for synthetic drug response and cocaine-related harm reduction.
4. Tackling exploitation linked to drug use
Working jointly with Serious Violence Duty partners, we are improving our county-wide response to exploitation, including County Lines and cuckooing.
This includes developing a multi-agency toolkit, mapping best practice, and using shared data to target interventions.
5. Strengthening co-occurring conditions pathways
We are progressing an integrated approach to supporting people experiencing both substance use and mental health needs.
This includes a developing strategy, joint commitments across partners, expanded training and coproduction, and improved transitions for people leaving secure settings.
6. Improving continuity of care from prison to community
More people are now receiving consistent support when transitioning from prison back into the community.
Enhanced in-reach, new release packs, rising continuity-of-care rates, and stronger links with referring prisons are driving this improvement.
7. Supporting workforce development
To maintain a skilled, confident workforce, we continue to offer extensive training across the system.
Plans for the year ahead include a refreshed workforce needs assessment, co-produced stigma training, enhanced multiagency learning, and a standardised impact framework.
8. Refresh and publish the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA)
We will develop and publish a refreshed, comprehensive JNA to better understand need, shape future strategy, and inform commissioning.
The JNA will be developed with input from the partnership and lived experience to provide a full comprehensive assessment and a summary overview document.
Change Grow Live (CGL) - Support for you
If you’re over 18 and worried about your own drug or alcohol use, we can help you break free from harmful patterns of behaviour, and feel happier and healthier. We tailor the drug and alcohol support we offer to fit your needs. Whether it's one-to-one working or group sessions, we will help you work towards your goals. We want you to unlock your full potential.
Our services include clinical treatment which may include blood tests and working together with the UROKET clinic.
We have needle exchanges where you can find harm reduction advice as well as blood-borne virus testing, naloxone training and access to other services.
We have hubs in Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth. We also see people in the community, so we can support you wherever you live in Norfolk.
> Change Grow Live Norfolk | Drug and alcohol support
Unity - Support for You
If you’re under 19 and worried about your own drug or alcohol use, Unity is here to help. The team offers confidential, non-judgemental support to help you understand how substances may be affecting you and to make positive changes if you want. You can get one-to-one advice and harm reduction tips.
The Unity service understand that everyone is different, and they will always try to meet each person’s specific needs - for example, if you feel anxious about meeting them, they can meet you somewhere you feel comfortable, or if you learn best in a certain way, they can support you to understand information in a way that works for you.
Alcohol, drugs and mental health support: