Drug Strategy: Can The Government Deliver? UK
"The investment by government in the past 10 years should be acknowledged but there is still a lot to do in reducing the harms drugs cause.
The emphasis on supporting families and improving outcomes for people in drug treatment is welcome. However, while the strategy is strong on aspiration it is unclear how change and improvement will be delivered, particularly at a time of reduced funding for adult treatment and young people's drug services.
We welcome the commitment to improve access to employment and training for problem drug users but it would be nonsensical to remove benefits particularly as one of the aims of the strategy is to break the link between drugs and crime. The stick of coercion and threats to remove benefit will be counterproductive without positive support, well-trained advisers and tackling the reluctance of employers to recruit former drug users.
For drug users and families stigma is a major barrier to seeking and getting access to services, housing and employment. We can see nothing in the strategy document which will directly address this important issue.
We are concerned at the lack of emphasis on workforce development and training, particularly for professionals working with children and families. Improvements in inter-agency working - essential for the re-integration of problem drug users into the community - will require a change in culture, attitudes and much better planning and co-ordination.
The announcement on asset seizures is not unexpected but local police need to work in partnership with drug treatment and prevention services if there is to be a real impact on reducing drug harms in communities."
Martin Barnes attended this morning's drug strategy launch event at 10 Downing Street.
Short video of the Downing Street launch on the 10 Downing Street website: here.
Notes
The Home Office have launched the new 10-year drug strategy for England.The drug strategy is a cross-government programme of policies and interventions that aim to reduce the harms caused by illegal drugs.You can find out more here.
In 2007 the Home Office launched a consultation the future of the drug strategy. DrugScope consulted widely with our membership and developed a response based on their hopes and concerns for the future. DrugScope's response to the drug strategy consultation can be found here.
Latest Home Office estimates (2005/06 data) suggest that there are 332,090 problem drug users in England, or 9.97 problem drug users per 1000 of the population (aged 15 - 64). Problem drug use is defined as the use of opiates (heroin/methadone) and/or crack cocaine.
Source: RDS 21/07 National and regional estimates of the prevalence of opiate use and/or crack cocaine use 2005/06: a summary of key findings (See http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds)
http://www.drugscope.org.uk
Strategia de droguri: Guvernul poate livra? Regatul Unit - Drug Strategy: Can The Government Deliver? UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate