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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Public consulted on drug strategy
BBC News
Wednesday 25 Jul 2007 The government has launched what it says is the country's biggest public consultation on tackling drugs. Jacqui Smith, who last week admitted having taken cannabis at university, has outlined plans such as more drug education for children aged under 11. The home secretary will also announce an extra £5m for the Talk to Frank awareness campaign for young people. And, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already said, there will be a review of the reclassification of cannabis. Ms Smith launched the consultation less than a week after she admitted smoking cannabis while she was at Oxford University in the 1980s. Her admission prompted a string of fellow Cabinet ministers to reveal their own drug-taking experiences. Treatment programmes Two other departments will be involved in the consultation with the Home Office - the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. The consultation paper will focus on drug-treatment programmes and the wider anti-drugs strategy in a bid to update the current drug strategy which finishes in March 2008. It is being launched as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence issues new guidelines for treating addicts, which could see some offered shopping vouchers in return for staying off drugs. The public, including current and ex-drug users, have until 19 October to respond to the 40-question consultation paper. Among the questions are whether children under the age of 11 should be specifically targeted in anti-drugs campaigns. The Home Office paper says that 17% of 11 to 15 year olds in England and Wales have said they have used drugs. Other figures show that more than half of robberies, burglaries and thefts involved drug users. Success rates This link led to the Drugs Intervention Programme which sees testing on arrest and offers of treatment. While the numbers under treatment have steadily increased, the consultation paper also wants to gather views on how to improve the success rate. Government figures show that for every pound spent on drugs treatment the health service and the criminal justice system saves nearly £10. The government's main aim is to tackle drugs by toughening enforcement against dealers, educating young people and treating drug users. The cannabis classification review will last for six months, with the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reporting to the government early next year. It will take into account the fact that there are now far stronger strains of cannabis available. Strategy update Ms Smith said: "Drug use has fallen by 24% among young people since 1998, we have cut drug related crime by 20% in the last four years and record numbers of people are undergoing drug treatment, but we are not complacent and recognise there is much work to do. "That is why I want to hear fresh and constructive ideas on how we can build on our achievements with the new drug strategy." To find out what the public wants the Home Office will run workshops and events with community members, families and current and ex-drug users to ask how it should tackle drugs. It will also distribute 200,000 leaflets to police stations, libraries, doctors' surgeries and community groups across in England and Wales. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6914456.stm
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