Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO)

Interventions suitable for

Clients who have been jointly assessed as suitable by both the Angus Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service (AIDARS) worker and CJSW.

Programme Title and Provider

Drug Treatment and Testing Order

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

A DTTO is a court order aimed at supporting clients to reduce their drug use related to their offending behaviour. The order is supervised by the CJSWR, with any decisions regarding the client’s progress made jointly with the AIDARS worker.
Prior to being placed on a DTTO, the client must consent to the order being imposed and must be willing to:

• Accept treatment for their (illegal) substances use
• Be frequently and randomly drug tested
• Attend court monthly to advise the Sheriff of their progress
• Accept supervision and support from CJSW and AIDARS worker

Undertake the following interventions where required:

• Regular assessments
• Harm reduction advice
• Support with any health issues and/or specialised medical treatment
• Drug and tolerance testings
• Individual counselling
• Detoxification programmes
• Liaison with other services
• Referrals to agencies/services to support long-term recovery

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders: Guidance for Schemes

Possible Outcomes

The main objectives of a DTTO are to:

• Reduce or eliminate the client’s dependency or propensity to use illicit substances
• Support the client to achieve positive changes in the level and frequency of their drug related offending

Potential outcomes:

• Improved physical health
• Improvement in the client’s psychological and emotional wellbeing
• Improved quality of life
• Reduction in client’s risk-taking behaviour and/or changed their method of use increased self-confidence and self-esteem

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 sets out the criteria when a DTTO can be imposed.
Where the court is satisfied that:

• The client is dependent on or has propensity to misuse drugs, and
• The dependency or propensity requires and may be susceptible to
  treatment
• The client is a suitable person to be subject to an order

Although, no legal definition of a suitable person, it is suggested that suitability is determined by such factors as the client’s motivation to address their drug dependency and have sufficient stability of location and circumstances, to enable both supervision and treatment to take effect.  To inform the court on the suitability of the order, a request for a DTTO Assessment should be made, allowing a period of six weeks to complete the assessment. The assessment will be undertaken jointly by the CJSW and the AIDARS worker to determine suitability and will include:

• Whether the Order is indicated by the level of the client’s offending behaviour and the link between their offending and their substance (illegal) use
• The client’s suitability for a DTTO
• Expected length of the DTTO (generally 2 years)
• Any outstanding issues or complex needs