{"id":68314,"date":"2026-01-14T12:49:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T12:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=68314"},"modified":"2026-01-14T12:49:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T12:49:10","slug":"devons-substance-misuse-service-praised-for-outstanding-performance-as-cabinet-agree-intent-to-award-new-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/devons-substance-misuse-service-praised-for-outstanding-performance-as-cabinet-agree-intent-to-award-new-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Devon\u2019s substance misuse service praised for outstanding performance as Cabinet agree intent to award new contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Devon County Council has confirmed plans to award a new, up to three year contract to Waythrough, the current provider of adult drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, following a strong track record of delivery since 2018.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past eight years, Waythrough has transformed access to treatment across Devon, responding to a 41% rise in demand since the pandemic and delivering innovative, person-centred care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent reviews and public consultations have praised the service for its work in strengthening connections with housing and criminal justice pathways; enhancing support to health professionals; and involving people with lived experience of drug and alcohol misuse in service development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key achievements during the current contract with Waythrough include reducing waiting times for treatment to a minimum; responding to changing patterns of need through, for example, formation of new Ketamine treatment support groups; and enhanced recovery support including access to a range of physical activities and creative arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service is also delivering harm reduction initiatives with a strong evidence base for reducing harm and saving lives including naloxone training for people in treatment, their peers and wider members of the community; needle and syringe exchange services; and blood-borne virus prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Individual placement support\u2019 is now helping people in recovery into employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as part of multi-agency work, Waythrough is helping to provide dedicated support to people experiencing homelessness in Exeter, alongside the Clock Tower Surgery, Co-Lab, BtheChange, BCHA and Real Life Psychology.  This service was nominated for a national Health Service Journal Award in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review of the service also identified development opportunities consistent with national ambitions, including improving the quality of the treatment offer and outcomes; improving access through further outreach; and improving integration and joint working arrangements with other services and professionalisation of workforces.<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cDrug and alcohol dependency cuts people\u2019s lives short. Treatment and support to those people saves lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the support of holistic treatment and recovery services, thousands of people in England leave treatment each year and stay in recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Devon, Waythrough has consistently delivered high-quality, innovative services that are saving lives and strengthening communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis new contract ensures continuity in a period of significant potential change in Devon. It builds on their success, supporting our ambition for a healthier, safer Devon.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

Subject to any potential call-in of today\u2019s decision by Cabinet Members, the new contract will start in Spring 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you, your family or friends need support around drug and alcohol dependency, contact Waythrough on 0800 233 5444, SW_together@waythrough.org.uk<\/a> or visit https:\/\/www.waythrough.org.uk\/<\/a> to learn more about the help they offer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":68318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[24,2144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dcc-homepage","category-public-health"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":68318,"title":"News Page size (72)","alt":"A group of adults sat in a circle talking to each 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