Need for a 'fresh approach' to drug policy

A radical rethink of how the UK's response to drug problems is structured has been proposed in a report by the independent body UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC). The report provides an analysis of the evidence for how policies and interventions could be improved, with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to address the new and established challenges associated with drug use. 'Many members of the public, and many politicians, believe that our drug policies are not working. But the debate about how we address the challenges of mind-altering drugs is polarised, with an added emotional and moral aspect that is not seen in most other policy areas', says the UKDPC.

The report, entitled A Fresh Approach to Drugs: The Final Report of the UK Drug Policy Commission¹ says that Britain spends at least £3 billion on tackling the problems caused by use of illicit drugs, and much more on addressing indirect costs, including family breakdown and wider health problems. Although some of Britain's drug policies are supported by evidence (eg, reducing HIV rates in drug users and having helped growing numbers to recover from addiction), much of what Britain spends on addressing drug problems has little or no basis in factual evidence. The report warns 'we continue to pursue policies that have either been shown to offer poor value for...