# Preventing drug and alcohol deaths: partnership review process

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/137a8714-c53b-46dd-8de8-5bc322680866
Type: Guidance
Published: September 26, 2024

> This guidance, issued by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), outlines a framework for local partnerships to establish and evaluate review processes for drug-related deaths, alcohol-related deaths, and near-fatal overdoses. The framework is designed for directors of public health, combating drugs partnerships, and senior responsible officers involved in commissioning and delivering NHS and voluntary services. While there are no specific inspection dates or violations mentioned in this policy document, the primary issue addressed is the need for standardized local reviews to improve strategic responses to substance misuse. Under this regulatory framework, local areas are expected to implement and adapt the guidance to their specific needs, focusing on adult populations while coordinating with existing child death overview panels for those under 18. Required actions for local partnerships include the formalization of internal assessment processes and participation in ongoing monitoring by the OHID. These efforts are intended to provide evidence for future policy revisions and ensure that local interventions are effectively preventing avoidable fatalities through comprehensive data collection and performance review.

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## Content

Local partnerships should use this guidance to help them set up and evaluate their review processes for: drug-related deaths alcohol-related deaths near-fatal overdoses Local areas should interpret and implement this guidance as appropriate to their local circumstances. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in the Department of Health and Social Care will monitor how areas do that, and how useful they find the guidance, with a view to reviewing and revising it. It will be of particular interest to people who commission and plan the strategic response to drugs and alcohol, including: directors of public health combating drugs partnerships senior responsible officers partners in the commissioning and delivery of services for people who use drugs and alcohol, including voluntary and NHS services Service providers may also find it useful in considering their own internal processes for assessing drug and alcohol related deaths. This guidance relates to drug and alcohol deaths in adults. Deaths of children and young people under the age of 18 are reviewed as part of child death overview panels.

## Attachments

- [Preventing drug and alcohol deaths: partnership review process](/government/publications/preventing-drug-and-alcohol-deaths-partnership-review-process/preventing-drug-and-alcohol-deaths-partnership-review-process)