People in recovery help shape new action plan to tackle drug and alcohol harm in Leeds

Jules, 52, has told how “life improved exponentially” once he worked on himself and engaged with the city’s recovery services – as new figures show rising numbers of people in Leeds seeking, and completing, treatment for drug and alcohol use.

Jules was one of the many people across the city affected by the impact of substance use who shared their raw and honest experiences for the new Leeds Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2025-30, which will be presented to city health leaders at the Health and Wellbeing Board next week (Thursday March 20).

The strategy has been drafted by the Leeds Drug and Alcohol Partnership, which includes Leeds City Council, the NHS, police, prisons, probation, children’s services and the third sector.

It lays out current challenges facing the city along with significant achievements so far in reducing substance harm – and lists six priorities for the years ahead.

As well as those in recovery, the strategy’s authors also spoke to carers, children and young people and a wide range of organisations and professionals who work in the field.

Jules had used drugs for half of his life, eventually spending time in jail for dealing, before achieving abstinence in 2023 and he is now a peer mentor with the city’s drug and alcohol service Forward Leeds and recovery hub 5 Ways.

He said it was “humbling” to be able to take part in the strategy’s development and he wants to give hope to others that there is a way out, with the right support.

He said: “I used drugs, on and off, for 25 years. But when I did something different and engaged with the services and did some work on myself, that’s when my life improved exponentially.

“5 Ways is a wonderful place – everyone is rooting for you, staff and clients. I just want to help people get clean. I know what hell it is when you’re going through that ‘Groundhog Day’ of drug using. It’s relentless. All the low self-esteem and self-hatred too. I don’t want people to have that. If I can shine a bright light on someone that there is a way out, then I feel like I’ve achieved something.

“Being part of the drug strategy discussions was humbling and moving. I was used to being on the other side of the fence, being told what to do. But I could feel people were listening and wanting to make sure it was compassionate, even down to the wording used.” 

Like all large cities in the UK, Leeds is impacted by the health and social harms of alcohol and substance use.

The strategy states that between 2022 and 2024, there have been an average of nearly 300 preventable deaths from alcohol-related conditions per year in the city and over 60 preventable drug-related deaths per year.

Estimates also suggest there are currently over 10,000 alcohol-dependent adults in Leeds and over 5,000 opiate and/or crack users.

But promisingly, the number of those seeking treatment is on the rise – with a 19 per cent increase in young people in treatment between March 2022 and September 2024, along with a nine per cent increase in adults.

The number of adults successfully completing treatment at Forward Leeds was also higher than the national average in 2023/24 and Leeds is the best performing of the UK’s core cities for successful completions of opiate treatment.

Figures in the strategy also show fewer secondary school pupils are consuming alcohol, with 46 per cent reporting having had a drink in 2022/23 compared to 70 per cent ten years ago (2012-13).

Similarly with drugs, while 14 per cent of pupils said they had used illegal drugs, gases or solvents in 2012/13, this had dropped to five per cent in 2022/23.

Leeds is part of the Inclusive Recovery Cities movement, which promotes visible recovery, challenges stigma and champions multiple pathways to recovery.

As well as treatment and recovery, the Drug and Alcohol Strategy covers wider issues including prevention and reducing victimisation and exploitation, ensuring more is done to protect against both health and social harms of substance use.

The six key priorities set out in the strategy are:

• Prevention,
• Harm reduction,
• Treatment and support,
• Social and community harms from substance use,
• Protecting children, young people and families; and
• Recovery.

Prevention was a particularly key priority highlighted in the strategy, with a plan to focus  on interventions to reduce exposure to drugs and alcohol across Leeds such as using the council’s licensing, planning and advertising powers to create healthier spaces.

Improving the mental health and emotional resilience of children and young people, and early help for families, were also given as key aims, along with ensuring accessibility of high quality and effective treatment and increased numbers of ‘recovery champions’ to provide peer support.

Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, health and wellbeing, said: “This strategy paves the way for Leeds to continue to be a compassionate city that works with individuals, families and communities to prevent drug and alcohol harms and to provide outstanding treatment and support.

“We will continue to invest in drug and alcohol services and work collaboratively with partners to ensure the strategy’s success and help improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.” 

Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s director of public health, said: “Substance use affects a large number of people - not just those who use drugs and alcohol but also their families, loved ones, carers, wider communities, and services and businesses in the city.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the people, like Jules, who gave us their time and honesty in sharing their experiences to help shape the strategy and create clear aims upon which to focus our work in the years to come.

“We believe these are the right priorities, informed and supported by the people of Leeds.” 

To view the Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2025-2030, visit Council and democracy (agenda item 10).

For more information on recovery in Leeds visit https://recoveryinleeds.org.uk/.

ENDS