The community drug team

The creation of a network of nearly 100 community drug teams (CDTs) across the UK stands as the most significant expansion to occur within drug services during the 1980s. Key characteristics include the narrowly defined geographical focus, the community emphasis, the multi-disciplinary composition and the promotion of generic contribution through 'consultancy'--as with Community Alcohol Teams. Subsequent adaptations have extended from the base of the CDT with outreach strategies and harm-minimization techniques. However, the extent of collaboration from generic colleagues (especially general practitioners) has been initially poor and is only slowly improving. An unplanned abandonment of the original consultancy role for the CDT is widely evident, as CDT workers have become more actively involved in the delivery of care--either directly or on a 'shared care' basis. It is proposed that separate consideration should be given to short- and long-term development strategies, including re-examination of the target populations, staffing composition, and methods of work through consultancy and/or direct provision of care.