This document provides an essential guide to outcome-based commissioning for UK drug treatment, recovery and reintegration. The document recognises the need for a broad perspective in relation to outcomes of modern, recovery oriented drug treatment systems, covering both community and prison settings, and was designed to assist local drugs partnerships to clearly specify the required quality and outcomes of their treatment systems, facilitate continuous improvement in service redesign and to better meet the needs of the local population.

What is the document about?
• Outcome-based commissioning for the drug treatment, reintegration and recovery system in drug partnership areas for problem drug users. This is based on the four domains measured through the Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP) with the desired goal of achieving reductions in drug use and ultimately abstinence in those who can achieve this, reduced offending behaviour, an improvement in general health and reintegration with education, training, employment, housing and other services.

• This document draws significantly on the 11 competences required of commissioners under the World Class Commissioning approach which is compatible with the commissioning principles that apply to drug partnerships whether administered in a health or a local authority setting. This approach recognises the need for a broad outcomes perspective. This document supports the development of a modern, evidence and recovery-based drug treatment system covering community and prison settings that needs to be delivered in the context of mainstream health reforms which are in keeping with the personalisation agenda and the vision set out in ‘High Quality Care for All’.