People recovering from substance use issues are playing pivotal roles in shaping Leeds’s new five-year plan to address drug and alcohol harm, set to be presented to health leaders on March 20, 2025.
The Leeds Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2025-30 aims to tackle the rising challenges related to substance use amid alarming statistics indicating preventable deaths and increasing numbers of treatment seekers.
Among those contributing is Jules, 52, who has dramatically turned his life around through Leeds’s recovery services. Having struggled with substance use for over two decades, he describes his involvement with the strategy as both humbling and empowering.
Jules was once on the other side of the treatment spectrum. After spending years using drugs, even dealing for some time, he achieved his long-desired sobriety in 2023. Now he serves as a peer mentor with Forward Leeds and at recovery hub 5 Ways, proudly sharing his story to inspire hope.
“I used drugs on and off for 25 years,” Jules recalled. “But when I did something different and engaged with the services and did some work on myself, my life improved exponentially.” His perspective is echoed throughout the new strategy, which strongly encourages peer-led initiatives and informed community action.
The strategy has been drafted by the Leeds Drug and Alcohol Partnership, which consists of multiple stakeholders including Leeds City Council, the NHS, police, prisons, probation, children’s services, and various third-sector organizations. Objective-driven, it aims to address the serious public health and social issues caused by substance use.
New figures reveal significant concerns about the state of substance use within the city. From 2022 to 2024, Leeds reported nearly 300 preventable deaths annually due to alcohol-related issues and over 60 preventable drug-related deaths each year. With estimates showing over 10,000 alcohol-dependent adults and more than 5,000 individuals addicted to opiates and/or crack, the city is under pressure to find effective solutions.
Despite these challenges, the tide is beginning to turn. Recent data highlighted a 19 percent increase of young people entering treatment between March 2022 and September 2024, alongside a 9 percent increase among adults. Leeds is reportedly the leading performing city for successful completion rates of opiate treatment, outperforming other major UK cities.
Councillor Fiona Venner, the executive member for equality, health and wellbeing at Leeds City Council, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the strategy. “This strategy paves the way for Leeds to continue to be a compassionate city,” she stated. “We will continue to invest in drug and alcohol services and work collaboratively with partners to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.”
Additional success is reflected in declining reports of substance use among students. According to the strategy, only 46 percent of secondary school students reported having consumed alcohol during the 2022-23 academic year, down from 70 percent ten years prior. Similarly, the percentage of pupils admitting to illegal drug use dropped from 14 percent to 5 percent within the same timeframe.
The Drug and Alcohol Strategy prioritizes several objectives, including intervention programs to help mitigate exposure to drugs and alcohol across the city. The measures include leveraging council licensing and planning powers to create healthier environments, focusing on the mental health and resilience of children, and ensuring the accessibility of high-quality treatments.
Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s director of public health, acknowledged the significant input of community members like Jules. “Substance use affects many people—not just those using drugs and alcohol but also their families, loved ones, and communities. We're immensely grateful to those who shared their stories to shape the strategy,” she noted.
The strategy outlines six main priorities: prevention, harm reduction, treatment and support, addressing social and community harms, protecting children and families, and promoting recovery. Each priority reflects the multi-faceted approach needed to combat substance use effectively.
Particularly notable is the focus on prevention, aiming for interventions to avert initial exposure to substances. The council plans to implement programs to strengthen family structures, promote mental health early on, and offer peer support through 'recovery champions.'
“I want to help people get clean,” Jules added, illustrating the heart of the community effort. “I know what hell it is when you’re going through the ‘Groundhog Day’ of drug use.” His story is emblematic of the grassroots and professional collaboration striving to dismantle the stigma associated with recovery and the barriers people face accessing support.
With the strategy approaching its formal presentation, community observers are hopeful. Leeds is part of the Inclusive Recovery Cities movement aimed at advocating for visible recovery efforts and challenging the stigma around substance use.
To learn more about the Leeds Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2025-30, visit the city council’s official website.