An article examined the assessment of drug policy recently set out in a series of critical reports, and looked at the possible impact of a drug policy that prioritized harm reduction over prevention and enforcement.
Source: Neil McKeganey, 'The challenge to UK drug policy', Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, Volume 14 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Dec
A baseline report was published for a study of the effectiveness of drug treatment in England. Treatment seekers were predominantly male (73 per cent), aged between 25 and 44 (72 per cent) and white (89 per cent). Nearly half (43 per cent) of the sample reported lifetime contact with mental health services; 23 per cent had previously been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Over one-third (39 per cent) of the sample acknowledged committing acquisitive crime in the four weeks prior to interview.
Source: Andrew Jones et al., The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Baseline Report, Research Report 3, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report | Summary | Appendix
Date: 2007-Nov
A report was published of the first nationally representative survey of drugs and crime among individuals arrested in England and Wales. It provided a measurement of self-reported drug misuse. Regular users of heroin or crack were more likely to have committed acquisitive crime in the 12 months prior to arrest (81 per cent) than those who did not take them regularly (30 per cent).
Source: Richard Boreham, Alexandra Cronberg, Laura Dollin and Steve Pudney, The Arrestee Survey 2003-2006, Statistical Bulletin 12/07, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin
Date: 2007-Nov
A report examined the way that the Drug Interventions Programme engaged and directed class A drug misusers from the point of arrest or charge to the point of treatment, and examined their offending levels before and after identification by DIP. The overall volume of offending by a cohort of 7,727 individuals was 26 per cent lower following DIP identification. (The Drug Interventions Programme was introduced in April 2003 with the aim of developing and integrating measures for directing adult drug-misusing offenders into drug treatment, and reducing offending behaviour.)
Source: Sara Skodbo et al., The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP): Addressing Drug Use and Offending through 'Tough Choices', Research Report 2, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Date: 2007-Nov
A report said that the Drug Harm Index (an official measure of the harm caused by illegal drugs) had fallen from 89.1 in 2004 to 83.8 in 2005 – largely due to further reductions in drug-related crime (most notably domestic and commercial burglaries, theft from a domestic vehicle, shoplifting, and other thefts).
Source: Andrew Goodwin, Measuring the Harm from Illegal Drugs: The Drug Harm Index 2005, Online Report 22/07, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Nov
A report examined how high-level drug dealers operated, and how markets for illicit drugs worked.
Source: Matrix Knowledge Group, The Illicit Drug Trade in the United Kingdom, Online Report 20/07, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report | LSE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Nov
A statistical bulletin considered the extent of illicit drug use among people aged 16-59 in England and Wales in 2006-07, and trends in drug use, based on data from the British Crime Survey. Overall use of any drug was at its lowest level since the BCS started measurement in 1996. This was mainly due to declines in the use of cannabis (the most prevalent drug used) since 2003-04.
Source: Rachel Murphy and Stephen Roe, Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2006/07 British Crime Survey, Statistical Bulletin 18/07, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-Oct
A study found that heavy cannabis use among vulnerable young people could exacerbate existing social problems, such as low educational achievement, homelessness, and unemployment.
Source: Margaret Melrose with Penny Turner, John Pitts and David Barrett, The Impact of Heavy Cannabis Use on Young People: Vulnerability and youth transitions, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2007-Oct
A new book examined the relationship between substance misuse and domestic violence, and their effect on children. It looked at the response of children's services when there were concerns about the safety and welfare of children.
Source: Hedy Cleaver, Don Nicholson, Sukey Tarr and Deborah Cleaver, Child Protection, Domestic Violence and Parental Substance Misuse: Family experiences and effective practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Oct
A survey found that fewer teenagers in England aged 11 to 15 were drinking alcohol: but those who did drink were consuming more than ever. 21 per cent had had an alcoholic drink in the previous week, down from 26 per cent in 2001: but among those who had drunk in the previous seven days, the average consumption was 11.4 units, up from 10.4 units in 2000.
Source: Elizabeth Fuller (ed.), Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England in 2006, NHS Information Centre (0845 300 6016)
Links: Report | NatCen press release | Addaction press release | Alcohol Concern press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Aug
The government began consultation on its drugs strategy after March 2008 (when the existing strategy was due to run out). It said that a more radical approach was needed to drug-related problems. It asked how could drug treatment be made more cost-effective; and whether children under the age of 11 should be specifically targeted in anti-drugs campaigns.
Source: Drugs: Our Community, Your Say, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation document | Home Office press release | YJB press release | DEF press release | Transform press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jul
A study examined the change in police-recorded crime in England and Wales following the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003. The numbers of more serious violent crimes fell in the year after the introduction of the Act in November 2005 compared with the previous year, with the decreases occurring particularly in the evening hours before midnight, but with increases between 3am and 6am.
Source: Penny Babb, Violent Crime, Disorder and Criminal Damage Since the Introduction of the Licensing Act 2003, Online Report 16/07, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the increasing use of the criminal justice system as a means of channelling and coercing drug users into treatment, and the conceptual, ethical, and criminological issues raised.
Source: Toby Seddon, 'Coerced drug treatment in the criminal justice system: conceptual, ethical and criminological issues', Criminology and Criminal Justice, Volume 7 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
A follow-up study examined how occasional and controlled heroin-users managed their drug use over an extended period of time.
Source: Tim McSweeney and Paul Turnbull, Exploring User Perceptions of Occasional and Controlled Heroin Use: A follow-up study, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2007-Jul
The Prime Minister announced a review (the second in two years) into whether cannabis should be reclassified as a 'class B' (more serious) drug.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 18 July 2007, column 268, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Downing Street press release | Rethink press release | Transform press release | ACPO press release | Conservative Party press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jul
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to regulate the pricing and labelling of alcohol products; to further restrict alcohol advertising; and to make provision in relation to public order and alcohol-related offences.
Source: Alcohol (Harm Reduction) Bill, Sandra Gidley MP, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2007-Jul
A seminar report (by an official advisory body) said that a cross-governmental national strategy was needed to tackle drugs, alcohol misuse, and risky sexual behaviour by young people. In order to ensure that the strategy met young people?s needs, young people themselves should have a central role in the strategy?s development.
Source: Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Young People: A review of the impact drugs and alcohol have on young people?s sexual behaviour, Independent Advisory Group for Sexual Health and HIV (Sexual_Health_IAG@dh.gsi.gov.uk)
Links: Report | IAG press release | FPA press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
A report said that the government?s drug policy in England and Wales was failing to tackle the rise in hepatitis and HIV infections, because of changing patterns of injecting drug use.
Source: At the Sharp End: A snapshot of 21st century injecting drug use, Turning Point (020 7702 1458)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-May
A report said that 364,000 people needed treatment in accident and emergency departments in England and Wales in 2006 after being assaulted - 6,000 fewer than the previous year, and following a relaxation of pub opening hours in November 2005.
Source: Vaseekaran Sivarajasingam, Simon Moore and Jonathan Shepherd, Violence in England and Wales 2006: An Accident and Emergency Perspective, Violence Research Group/Cardiff University (02920 742442)
Links: Report | Guardian report | FT report
Date: 2007-Apr
Campaigners examined the impact of the government's alcohol harm-reduction strategy. The amount of alcohol consumed by girls aged between 11 and 13 had increased by 82.6 per cent between 2000 and 2006, and for boys by 43.4 per cent. Parents who gave alcohol to children aged under 15 should be prosecuted.
Source: Glass Half Empty?, Alcohol Concern (020 7928 7377)
Links: Summary | Alcohol Concern press release | BMA press release | Portman Group press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Apr
A report (by a new advisory body) said that neither longer jail sentences nor education and prevention programmes had had much impact on illegal drug use.
Source: Peter Reuter and Alex Stevens, An Analysis of UK Drug Policy, UK Drug Policy Commission (020 7297 4750)
Links: Report | Summary | Guardian report | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2007-Apr
In 2005-06, 10.5 per cent of adults in England said that they had used one or more illicit drugs in the previous year, a decrease from 12.1 per cent in 1998.
Source: Statistics on Drug Misuse, England, 2007, NHS Information Centre (0845 300 6016)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Apr
A new book examined the nature and extent of the relationship between urban deprivation, drug misuse, and crime.
Source: Chris Allen, Crime, Drugs and Social Theory: A phenomenological approach, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Apr
Researchers evaluated a pilot project under which drug offenders were granted conditional bail if they agreed to undergo an assessment and participate in any proposed follow-up, including treatment. They said that its success, in terms of channelling defendants into drug treatment and its impact on drug use and offending, was not clear.
Source: Anthea Hucklesby, Catherine Eastwood, Toby Seddon and Angela Spriggs, The Evaluation of the Restriction on Bail Pilot: Final report, Online Report 06/07, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Mar
A report said that drug laws were 'not fit for purpose' and 'driven by moral panic'. Addiction to drugs and other substances should be treated as a chronic health condition and a social problem, not simply a crime or a cause of crime. The Misuse of Drugs Act should be replaced by a broader Misuse of Substances Act, and the existing 'ABC' classification system replaced by an 'index of harms'.
Source: Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, Drugs ? Facing Facts, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (020 7930 5115)
Links: Report | RSA press release | Transform press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Mar
An article examined the feasibility of using a nine-category matrix for classifying drugs based on their harmfulness. The ranking of drugs produced by the assessment differed from those used by existing regulatory systems: in particular, alcohol ranked above some 'class A' drugs.
Source: David Nutt, Leslie King, William Saulsbury and Colin Blakemore, 'Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse', The Lancet, 23 March 2007
Links: Abstract | Bristol University press release | Transform press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Mar
A new book examined illegal drug use as part of contemporary popular culture.
Source: Paul Manning (ed.), Drugs and Popular Culture: Drugs, media and identity in contemporary culture, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Feb
Researchers examined young people's resilience to drug use. Programmes that promoted discussion and tolerance of diversity within peer groups, based on a 'normative' approach to education, should be encouraged. These programmes could facilitate resilience by creating an environment where young people felt confident in expressing their personal choice about whether or not to use drugs, and in which peer pressure to use would be minimized.
Source: Lucy Dillon et al., Risk, Protective Factors and Resilience to Drug Use: Identifying resilient young people and learning from their experiences, Online Report 04/07, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report | Practice report
Date: 2007-Feb
A study in Northern Ireland found a positive association between the amount of money young people received and higher rates of drug use.
Source: Patrick McCrystal, Andrew Percy and Kathryn Higgins, 'The cost of drug use in adolescence: young people, money and substance abuse', Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, Volume 14 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Feb
An article said that assumptions about the overlap between offenders and drug-users had led to inflated claims of scale, precision, and causality in political discussions of the drug-crime link.
Source: Alex Stevens, 'When two dark figures collide: evidence and discourse on drug-related crime', Critical Social Policy, Volume 27 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jan
A study found that the government's decision to downgrade cannabis to 'class C' status had left police confused about whether to arrest, caution, or let free people they caught with the drug.
Source: Tiggey May, Martin Duffy, Hamish Warburton and Mike Hough, Policing Cannabis as a Class C Drug: An arresting change?, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Jan
An article examined the role of childhood loss or trauma in the lives of people with a history of drug abuse.
Source: Kim Etherington, 'Loss and trauma in the lives of people with a history of drug abuse', Journal of Loss & Trauma, Volume 12 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jan