MAJOR investment which will see long-awaited cash poured into tackling a ‘drug and alcohol crisis’ across Barnsley should flatten the curve of related addictions and deaths in the area, leaders believe.
UKAT - which runs Linwood House in New Lodge - vowed to help more addicts following major investment from private equity firm Sullivan Street Partners.
At the same time, the government has inflated drug and alcohol treatment budgets across Barnsley by 92 per cent.
In 2022, 48 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in Barnsley - up 65 per cent from just 29 deaths in the previous year and up 71 per cent from 28 deaths in 2019, before the Covid crisis hit.
In Barnsley in 2022, 151 people died from alcohol-specific causes - the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths in the area ever recorded.
Experts at Linwood House, on Wensley Road, cite the Covid crisis as a huge factor in alcohol-specific deaths in the area, given that there has been a 28 per cent rise in alcohol-specific deaths since 2019 when 36 people lost their lives to alcohol before the pandemic.
UKAT bosses said the investment - and boosted government budget - will allow them to reach more addicts.
Managing director Daniel Gerrard added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sullivan Street Partners.
“We have a positive history with the team and they know the industry, our business and most importantly, our desire and drive to help as many people suffering with addiction as possible, and they’ll undoubtedly be able to help us achieve our mission.”
Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) granted Barnsley Council a budget of £1,099,185 towards their 2023/24 drug strategy spend.
According to analysis by UKAT, the council now has a staggering 92 per cent more money to spend on drug and alcohol treatment services in their area, as their 2024/25 budget now stands at £2,121,258.
The rise in mortality is an issue that reflects broader social, economic and health trends in Barnsley, according to the data.
Factors contributing to this increase may include higher levels of alcohol consumption, socio-economic stresses and limited access to effective treatment and intervention services.
The data suggests that substance misuse remains a pervasive issue, exacerbating existing health disparities and placing additional strain on healthcare services.
Clients typically admit into Linwood House for a period of 28 days, inclusive of a seven-day detox, followed by an intense and effective residential therapy programme.
Its sobriety rate stands at 95 per cent one year after leaving treatment.
Layton Tamberlin, from Sullivan Street Partners, said: “The addiction treatment market is chronically unserved and we are delighted to have acquired a leading pioneer.
“We look forward to supporting Daniel and the team at Linwood House as they grow the business and expand its facility footprint and service offering.
“UKAT’s ethos and standard of care towards their clients is second to none and we are proud to be able to help them to continue freeing people from the grips of addiction.”
