A study found that widespread stigma was a barrier to drug-user recovery. 81 per cent of people agreed that it was important for people recovering from drug dependence to be part of the normal community: but 43 per cent would not want to live next door to someone who had been dependent on drugs, and only 41 per cent would be willing to work with them.
Source: Getting Serious About Stigma: The problem with stigmatising drug users, UK Drug Policy Commission
Links: Overview report | Summary | Research report (1) | Research report (2) | UKDPC press release | DrugScope press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Dec
The government published (following consultation) its new drug strategy, setting out a 'fundamentally different' approach to preventing drug use and in supporting recovery from drug and alcohol dependence. The strategy proposed:
• Putting more responsibility on individuals to seek help and overcome dependency.
• A more 'holistic' approach by addressing issues such as offending, employment, and housing.
• Reducing demand.
• Cracking down on those involved in drug supply, both at home and abroad.
• Putting power and accountability in the hands of local communities to tackle drugs and the harms they caused.
Source: Drug Strategy 2010: Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery – Supporting people to live a drug free life, Home Office
Links: Strategy | Hansard | Home Office press release | Impact assessment | Equality impact assessment | Consultation responses | Consultation document | Conservative Party press release | Alcohol Learning Centre press release | Alcohol Policy UK press release | Childrens Society press release | DEF press release | DrugScope press release | NTA press release | RCPsych press release | Turning Point press release | Guardian report | Community Care report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Dec
A report said that drug misusers needed a personalized package of support with greater control over their individual drug treatment in order to sustain their road back to recovery.
Source: Rebecca Daddow and Steve Broome, Whole Person Recovery: A user-centred systems approach to problem drug use, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce
Links: Report | RSA press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Nov
A review brought together the national and international evidence around 'what works' in recovery from drug addiction.
Source: David Best et al., Research for Recovery: A review of the drugs evidence base, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2010-Sep
The government began consultation on its drug strategy, around the themes of preventing drug use, strengthening enforcement, rebalancing treatment to support drug-free outcomes, and supporting recovery to break the cycle of drug addiction. One idea suggested was that people who were dependent on drugs and alcohol and who refused treatment could have their social security benefits withdrawn.
Source: 2010 Drug Strategy: Consultation Paper, Home Office
Links: Consultation document | Addaction press release | DrugScope press release | Turning Point press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Aug
A study found that the extreme stigma attached to drug addiction represented a 'massive obstacle' to rehabilitation and recovery – hindering access to treatment, work, and housing, and to rejoining society.
Source: Charlie Lloyd, Sinning & Sinned Against: The stigmatisation of problem drug users, UK Drug Policy Commission
Links: Report | UKDPC press release | DrugScope press release | York University press release | Guardian report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Aug
A report said that drug treatment services were of 'little relevance' to many members of minority communities, including gay/lesbian/transsexual groups, disabled people, and ethnic minorities. A better understanding of drug use within diverse minority communities was needed in order to reduce drug problems.
Source: The Impact of Drugs on Different Minority Groups: A review of the UK literature, UK Drug Policy Commission
Links: Report part 1 | Report part 2 | Report part 3 | Report part 4 | UKDPC press release | LGF press release | Charity Times report
Date: 2010-Jul
An official advisory body recommended that the government should not proceed with a pilot scheme (proposed by the previous Labour government) involving personalized support for benefit claimants who were undergoing drug treatment. A linked research report examined the experiences of problem drug users in relation to claiming benefit, looking for and being in employment, and dealing with Jobcentre Plus.
Source: Report of the Social Security Advisory Committee Made Under Section 174(2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 on the Social Security (Welfare Reform Drugs Recovery Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2010, Social Security Advisory Committee | Linda Bauld, Gordon Hay, Jennifer McKell and Colin Carroll, Problem Drug Users' Experiences of Employment and the Benefit System, Research Report 640, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report | DWP press release (1) | Research report | DWP press release (2) | DrugScope press release
Date: 2010-Jun
A report said that the drug and alcohol treatment system needed to be more flexible in order to effectively meet the needs of older teenagers and young adults developing substance misuse problems.
Source: Marcus Roberts, Young People's Drug and Alcohol Treatment at the Crossroads, DrugScope
Links: Report | DrugScope press release
Date: 2010-Mar
An audit report said that government action to tackle problem drug use had achieved good progress in a number of areas, including an increasing number of problem drug users in effective treatment and an increasing number leaving treatment free from dependency.
Source: Tackling Problem Drug Use, HC 297 (Session 2009-10), National Audit Office/TSO
Links: Report | NAO press release
Date: 2010-Mar