National Mission on Drugs: Annual Monitoring Report 2023-2024

11. Data development

Gaps in current data limit the extent to which metrics are available to assess progress. Work is underway to explore where data development would support more complete monitoring, including the feasibility of a lived/living experience survey and the development of metrics to monitor progress towards the cross-cutting priorities.

There are a number of areas where gaps in current data and understanding limit the extent to which metrics are available to assess National Mission progress, and this section focuses on where data development would support more complete monitoring. These areas for development are identified and discussed in the discussion sections for each Outcome and summarised here for ease.

Many of the existing monitoring metrics focus primarily on opioids. However, patterns of drug use, behaviours and harms are changing, particularly in relation to the use of non-opioid drugs such as cocaine and benzodiazepines, as well as the risk associated with the emergence of synthetic drugs like nitazenes and xylazine. There is a need to capture these substances within our understanding of prevalence and in assessing the need and availability of targeted harm reduction interventions and specialist treatment and support services. Ongoing data development work as part of RADAR and other public health research is expected to support understanding of these areas.

A key gap in understanding of progress is the lack of regular data collected directly from people with lived and living experience. This would strengthen monitoring of several Outcomes, including those relating to experiences of accessing and using drug treatment and support services, as well as whole systems engagements with non-substance use specific services, such as primary care. Critically, this insight would provide a greater understanding of the quality of and outcomes from services directly from those using them. A step towards this is the pilot Lived Experience Survey which is being undertaken by PHS as part of their evaluation of the National Mission (publication of the findings from this is anticipated later in 2025). This survey captures individuals' experience of the support on offer across the full range of that individual’s support needs and would be relevant to understanding progress towards a number of Outcomes. If the survey feasibility pilot is successful, this could lead to the establishment of a longitudinal survey which would contribute to an assessment of both the current situation and change over time.

Monitoring would be further strengthened through gaining an understanding of the extent to which needs are being addressed for the most at-risk groups, including understanding unmet need for those who are not currently accessing treatment and support services. This is pertinent to both access to and experience of using services. Sources of information such as the Annual ADP Survey currently provide high level measure of availability at an ADP level, but do not reflect on how widely available services are on a more local level, or the extent to which the available services are meeting the needs of people who need them. This is relevant to treatment and support services for people who use substances themselves, as well as for services and support for family members.

Finally, a key development area identified in last year’s National Mission Monitoring Report was the need for metrics to monitor progress in relation to the cross-cutting priorities: lived experience at the heart; equalities and human rights; tackle stigma; surveillance and data-informed; resilient and skilled workforce; and psychologically informed. These priorities cut across all six of the National Mission Outcomes, with careful consideration required to understand what appropriate and representative metrics to assess progress might look like. Work to develop these monitoring metrics is underway. Early findings echo a need for a lived/living experience survey to provide evidence across the majority of cross-cutting priorities including stigma, equalities and human rights, and psychologically informed. Furthermore, the value of a survey of services which would provide relevant insight for the workforce cross-cutting priority, and a number of the core outcomes, is clear. A report will be published later in 2025 setting out the opportunities, considerations and recommended next steps.