A BACKBENCHER has tabled a question of urgent public importance in the House of Keys over the threatened closure of the confidential Drug Advice Service & Helpline (DASH).
Douglas North MHK John Houghton has branded a ‘disgrace’ Treasury’s decision to turn down DASH’s application for funding from the Seized Assets Fund – and he claims it will lead to the service’s imminent closure.
Supporters and businesses are urging people to sign a petition asking Treasury to rethink and save the confidential 17 year-old service that helps drug users, their families and young people.
Mr Houghton, who has tabled his question to Chief Minister Allan Bell, said: ‘The island will lose a highly experienced service with a high success rate and preferred choice for many people who want a confidential service outside of government.
‘If the service was no longer there, there would be no confidential support outside of government for young people who use drugs or whose parents use drugs, no specialist drug telephone helpline or experienced confidential adult drug service and was failing the very community that the House represents.’
‘It is only 12 months since DASH was last threatened with closure. Director Shelly Stanley battled to keep the charity running after the Department of Social Care announced it would be withdrawing key funding.
Mr Houghton said: ‘The department will claim they already have services covered, having given a contract to the Alcohol Advisory Service, now “Motiv8”.
‘Why give money to a non drug specialist service at the cost of one that has been providing exceptional service for 17 years? There is over £1.2 million sitting there in the Seized Assets Fund, now lets just put it to some good use.’
