UK Blows Drug Money
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£148 Million of new money, that's brand new, not re-hashed or re-formulated cash, was pledged to cut crime and protect people from the harms caused by illegal drug use. This is due to an 80% rise in drug-related deaths since 2012 and is meant to tackle the supply of drugs, work with communities to support young children to make choices and minimise county lines gangs.
There was also money pledged to drug treatment services to support people who may have fallen fowl to substance misuse and to help, in the government's own words, "making sure children are no longer pressured to misuse drugs or get drawn into supplying them or reforming the treatment and recovery system to help people overcome drug misuse". Has it worked?
Why Funds Were Allocated
In 2020, Dame Carol Black was commissioned to complete an independent review of drug use in England and Wales. This was a significant step forward and hopefully positive change for all working in the drug treatment sector. The report was split into two sections; Part 1 looked in depth at the current picture and drug scene within England and Wales, and Part 2 was a series of recommendations of what we can do to improve our response to drug use and to improve treatment and recovery outcomes for people who use drugs.
The government outlined in part 1 the extent of the trouble we face, stating that the "harms from drug misuse costs society £19.3 billion per year" This is built up not only from crime but also the impacts of drug use on health services.
Everyone I spoke to working in drug treatment services agreed that it was time for a change, that we need positive reforms to support those who misuse drugs, and that drug use is a healthcare issue, not a criminal justice issue. The excitement from all who work in the sector was buzzing, with great expectations that we will move forward with how we as a country react, treat and view people who use drugs. Workers asked if we would get a new, forward-thinking model that would take the best of what Europe and America are doing and that the UK will be at the forefront of drug treatment and services.