Welcome to the Website of the Hackney Drug Action Team. This site is intended to be a resource for the people living within the borough and also for those further afield who want to find out more about what is happening in Hackney to tackle the problem of substance misuse or who want to know specifically where to go to for help in our borough.

Drug Action Teams were first set up across the country in 1995. There are now 138 DATs each responsible for a designated area (in London this is usually a borough) and tasked with implementing the Governments' 10 year national strategy "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain". (1998)

Hackney set up its Borough-based DAT in 1998.

Identifying real needs and building solid foundations to meet the challenge of these needs has been a big part of our work.

Based on research, we developed a strategy in 1999 for the years 2000-2003. Most of this work has now been completed. We want people in Hackney to know more about the drugs in the community, reduce the harm that these drugs cause, help people to take their lives and their community back from drugs and drug dealers.

Tackling substance misuse is complicated and requires the co-operation of a great many agencies. It also requires a lot of money.

But a lot is being done in Hackney to get the foundations right for the future, as will be clear from the information you will find on this website.