Welcome to eATA

I would like to start by saying how delighted I am to be taking up the post of Interim Chief Executive at eATA, and to thank the staff, board and members of the organisation for making me welcome. My vision for eATA is of an organisation that recognises and celebrates the fact that there are many recovery pathways. As a consequence I want to build a membership base that truly represents the breadth, richness and diversity of provision that exists in the drug and alcohol sector.

Historically, eATA existed to serve the needs of the residential sector. Subsequently its remit has expanded to include all treatment providers. It is therefore important that, whilst eATA will seek to represent the needs and views of the sector as a whole, it does not lose touch with its roots.

What I hope will make us distinct from other second tier organisations is an emphasis on supporting the building of capacity within the sector in the context of the Government’s new recovery agenda. Whilst we will of course keep abreast of politics and matters of policy, our primary focus will be on the practical issues facing our members in delivering services, and the development of pragmatic solutions to address these.

The Government’s shift towards localism means that, whilst there will be an ongoing dialogue with civil servants in Whitehall, we will increasingly be seeking to build links with local commissioners on behalf of our members. We will also be looking to play a full role in shaping the future direction of the drug sector partnership.

It is also important that we are visible to our membership and communicate effectively. I will be seeking to meet as many of our members as I can in the coming months, and we will be arranging a programme of regional and local events to provide an opportunity for members to network and discuss the issues of the day.

In closing, it has been an odd few weeks for the sector, with the tragic death of Amy Winehouse meaning that the papers have been full of addiction related coverage. Sadly, much of the debate, on social networking sites in particular, has indicated that we still have a long way to go in order to reduce stigma and raise understanding in relation to addiction in this country.

Whilst the cause of Amy’s death is as yet unknown, speculation in the papers was very much that she succumbed to her long and well documented battle with addiction, reinforcing a negative message that relapse is inevitable. This overlooks the fact that there are multitude of effective services in the UK delivering many thousands of people into recovery every year.

My condolences are extended not just to the Winehouse family, but to all those other families who have suffered the loss of a loved one as a result of drug or alcohol dependence, and whose deaths, whilst equally tragic, go unreported and unnoticed.