MAIN INFLUENCES ON MODERN UK DRUGS POLICY

Main Influences On Modern UK Drugs Policy



Table of Contents

Main Influences On Modern UK Drugs Policy3

Introduction3

The policy response5

An assessment of subsequent impact7

Policy implications9

Drug use in Britain11

Drug use in the general population12

Drug problems in Britain14

Death16

Health19

Crimes19

The impact of current drug policies20

Misuse of Drugs Act 197121

References26

Main Influences On Modern UK Drugs Policy

Introduction

The United Kingdom has the highest level of dependent drug use and among the highest levels of recreational drug use in Europe. The drug problem steadily worsened over the last quarter of the twentieth century: the number of dependent heroin users increased from around 5,000 in 1975 to a current estimated 281,000 in England and over 50,000 in Scotland. (Verstraete 2007) Since the turn of the millennium, drug trends have shown signs of stabilisation, albeit at historically high levels.

About one quarter of those born between 1976 and 1980 have used a Class A drug at least once by 2005. The percentage of young people who have used cannabis seems to have been decreasing in recent years, although it remains around 45%. Use of other drugs that have been associated with youth cultures in the last few decades, including LSD, amphetamines and ecstasy, has also fallen, while cocaine use has increased. But, most people use illegal drugs only for a short period of time. (Smith 2004)

Occasional drug use is not the principal cause of Britain's drug problems. The bulk of drug-related harm (death, illness, crime and other social problems) occurs among the relatively small number of people that become dependent on Class A drugs, notably heroin and cocaine.

There were 1,644 identi?ed drug-related deaths in the UK in 2005. The UK has the second-highest rate of drug-related death in Europe, at about 34 per million population aged 16 or over. The level of HIV among users in the UK is much lower than most other comparable European countries, with about 1.6% of injecting drug users being HIV positive. However, 42% of injectors in England and 64% of injectors in Scotland are estimated to be infected with hepatitis C. (International Labour Organization 2008)

Some of the estimated 327,000 problem drug users in England commit very high numbers of offences - most commonly shoplifts - to fund their drug use. Around a ?fth of arrestees appear to be dependent on heroin. Illicit drugs may also be linked to violent crime through the direct effects of stimulants, such as crack cocaine, on aggression and through the operation of the illegal market, which is regulated by violence and fear. It has recently been estimated that the size of the UK market for illicit drugs is over £5 billion, (Information Commissioner 2008) despite sustained reductions in drug prices. The annual socio- economic cost of drug-related crime in England and Wales has been estimated at over £13 billion.

Drug problems are disproportionately concentrated in areas of disadvantage. Problems such as drug dependency, drug-related deaths, infections, crime and mental illness cluster together in areas that are particularly socially deprived. (Francis 2008)

The policy response

Successive governments, initially across the UK ...