Poole Drug Action Team is committed to working in partnership to tackle drugs. Working to promote education, treatment, through care and aftercare, Poole DAT is at the leading edge of drug prevention work in Dorset. Drug Action Teams (DATs) are local multi-agency co-ordinating groups set up under the UK Government's strategy for England, 'Tackling Drugs Together'. All teams are headed by a DAT chair and most DATs have a co-ordinator. There are also Drug Task Groups made up of various local professionals who advise the DAT on policy and practice.

The Borough of Poole welcomed the opportunity to work in partnership with service providers to identify local needs and work towards solutions to effect the delivery of the National Drugs Strategy at a local level. A Drug Action Team Co-ordinator was appointed to support the Drug Action Team, liaise with partner organisations and co-ordinate the development of the local Drug and Alcohol strategy. Prior to the creation of the new Drug Action Team no treatment services were available in Poole. Residents were only able to access services in Bournemouth. In addition to sometimes lengthy waiting times the location of services also caused practical problems for Poole residents in relation to accessing facilities.

Following recent recommendations from the Governement Office of the South West, the DAT has merged with the partnership of Poole Safe Together Partnership. "Poole Safe Together Partnership" This new integrated partnership has now jointly undertaken a Crime and Drugs Audit (which is available to download on this page).