Somerset Council has committed to funding the Somerset Drugs and Alcohol Service (SDAS) through 2029, ensuring ongoing support for thousands of residents battling drug and alcohol addiction.
Currently, SDAS assists approximately 5,000 individuals affected by alcohol dependency and 2,000 battling drug dependency—including opioid and crack cocaine users. Despite facing a projected £73 million budget shortfall next year, Somerset Council’s Liberal Democrat administration has prioritized this essential service by agreeing to a three-year funding contract worth up to £5.4 million annually.
Since 2014, Turning Point, a national charity renowned for drug and alcohol support, has operated the SDAS. The newly extended contract, running until 2029, includes an option to extend for an additional three years, potentially bringing the total value above £32 million.
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Councillor Graham Oakes, portfolio holder for public health, climate change, and environment, emphasized the life-saving impact of SDAS during the council’s executive meeting in Taunton. He highlighted the benefits of the new longer-term funding agreement, enabling both investment and confident commissioning for service improvements. “This service literally does save lives,” Oakes stated.
Council leader Bill Revans echoed the importance of the service, sharing a personal connection with addiction issues. He underscored how effective addiction support can reduce pressures on adult and children’s social care budgets. “It is very worthwhile to take a moment to think about the impact this service has on our spending,” Revans noted.
Councillor Wakefield, responsible for adults’ services, housing, and homelessness, expressed her delight over the contract extension and pledged stronger collaboration between the housing team and SDAS for complex cases. Having previously worked with Turning Point as a solicitor, she praised the charity’s longstanding reputation and her confidence in the ongoing partnership.
Opposition councillors welcomed the funding extension but urged SDAS to intensify efforts targeting young people, especially given concerns about rising ketamine use. Councillor Mark Healey described ketamine’s effects and stressed the need for sustained council support to address drug issues impacting local schools.
Interim director of public health Alison Bell acknowledged the challenges, highlighting recent observations of ketamine misuse in communities like Glastonbury and emphasizing the importance of wide-reaching services across Somerset.
Other councillors called for engagement beyond schools, including colleges, sixth forms, and local youth clubs. Councillor John Cook-Woodman suggested that disciplined environments such as boxing and martial arts clubs can play a transformative role for young people vulnerable to addiction.
Through continued funding and collaboration between SDAS, the council, and community organizations, Somerset aims to provide crucial, life-saving support for individuals and families affected by addiction for years to come.